Ulrich  Middeldorf 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2016 


https://archive.org/details/historyofheathenOOshel 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


BATHEN  GOB 


HEROES  OF  ANTIQUITY 


TO  WHICH  IS  ADDED  AN 


ORIGINAL  TRANSLATION 


OF  THE 


BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS  AND  GIANTS. 

THE  WHOLE  NEWLY  ARRANGED,  CORRECTED  AND 
ENLARGED,  WITH  THE  ADDITION  OF  SEVERAL 
ORIGINAL  AND  VALUABLE  ARTICLES. 


By  william  SHELDON,  F.  A.  g. 


SECOND  EDITION. 
Ornamented  with  a number  of  elegant  Cuts. 


BOSTON : 

PUBLISHED  BY  ISAIAH  THOMAS,  JUN....1816« 


Ho  Mann  and  Co,  Printers^  Dedham^ 


District  of  Massachusetts^  to  wit : 


BE  IT  REMEMBERED,  that  on  the 


i li  s I October,  in  the  thirty  fourth 

J * 'I  Year  of  the  Independence  of  the  United 
**********  States  of  America,  Isaiah  Thomas,  Jun. 
of  the  said  district,  has  deposited  in  this  office  the  title 
of  a book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  proprietor,  in 
the  words  following,  to  wit : 

‘‘  History  of  the  Heathen  Gods,  and  Heroes 
of  Antiquity.  To  which  is  added  an  Original  Trans- 
lation of  the  Battle  of  the  Gods  and  Giants.  The 
whole  newly  arranged,  corrected  and  enlarged,  with 
the  addition  of  several  original  and  valuable  articles. 
By  William  Sheldon,  f.  a.  s.  First  edition,  orna- 
mented with  a number  of  elegant  cuts.’^ 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  intitled,  “ An  Act  for  the  encourage- 
ment of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts 
and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  cop- 
ies, during  the  times  therein  mentioned and  also  to 
an  act  intitled,  “ An  Act  supplementary  to  an  Act, 
intitled,  an  Act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by 
securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the 
authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned;  and  extending  the  benefits  thereof 
to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and  etching  histor- 
ical, and  other  prints.” 

WILLIAM  S.  SHAW, 
Ctertc  cf  the-  Distrki  of  Massaehicstit'S', 


PREFACE. 


THE  following  work  will  be  fomid 
contain  a compendious  mass  of  information 
which  will  be  eminently  useful  to  all  who  are 
desirous  of  attaining  such  a degree  of  knowl- 
edge of  the  Heathen  Mythology,  as  will  en- 
able them  to  understand  the  Greek,  Latin,  and 
English  poets. 

The  greatest  attention  has  been  bestowed 
on  this  performance,  in  order  to  render  it  as 
complete  as  the  nature  of  the  subject,  and  the 
limits  prescribed,  would  allow.  Recourse  has 
been  had  to  the  most  approved  treatises  ; sev- 
eral of  which  have  been  carefully  compared 
together,  and  the  defects  of  one  supplied  by  the 
other.  So  far  as  the  interpretation  of  any  fa- 
ble is  either  certain,  or  generally  agreed  upon, 
that  interpretation  is  inserted ; and  where  wri- 
ters differ  in  their  sentiments  about  an  expla- 
nation, that  diversity  of  opinion  is  also,  for  the 
most  part,  taken  notice  of. 

A 2 


vi  i?REFAei:. 

It  is  hop^  that,  On  perusal,  this  treatise  will 
be  found  to  contain  the  Substance  of  every 
thing  that  is  valuable  in  Tooke’s  Pantheon, 
tvhich  is  a more  bulky  and  expensive  work ; 
and  being  written  in  the  way  of  questioning 
Cfiswer,  the  w^ork,  of  course,  is  swelled  by  nu- 
merous questions,  which  are  in  a great  degree, 
useless.  Several  articles  will  be  found  in  this 
book,  which  the  reader  will  search  for  in  vain 
in  the  Pantheon  ; such  as  a translation  from 
the  Theogony  of  Hesiod,  of  the  battle  of  the 
Gods  and  Titans  5 the  histories  of  F rot eub^ 
q/*  Romulus,  ^Leucothoe  ; an  account  of  the 
Constellations,  &c^  &c*  An  Original  Intro^ 
Auction  is  also  prefixed,  in  which  an  attempt 
has  been  made  to  give  a true  idea  of  the 
Heathen  Mythology  ; and  to  rescue  the 
ancient  Fagans  (among  whom  our  own  ances- 
tors are  included)  from  the  charge  of  having 
been  subjected  to  that  stupid  and  more  than 
brutal  ignorance,  which  led  them  to  worship 
idols,  made  by  themselves,  of  metals,  wood, 
or  stone,  as  real  divinities.  It  is  the  more  in- 
cumbent on  us  to  rescue  our  forefathers  from 
the  charge  of  this  gross  stupidity  because  it  is 
totally  inconsistent  with  their  practices,  their 
Witten  testinionaes,  and  the  numerous  monu- 


PREFACE. 


vii 


ments  of  their  wisdom,  and  their  skill  in  the 
arts  and  sciences,  which  they  have  left  behind 
them.  This  wwk  will  be  found  to  possess 
one  farther  advantage  over  Tooke’s  Pan- 
theon, and  all  other  works  of  the  kind,  inas- 
much as  great  care  has  been  taken  to  alter  and 
expunge  the  many  gross  and  indelicate  ex- 
pressions they  contain ; and  w hich  have  a ten- 
dency to  corrupt,  more  than  to  refine,  the  sen» 
timents,  morals  and  language  of  youthful  stu- 
dents. 

This  work  will  be  found  highly  useful  to, 
and  necessary  for,  every  one  who  has  a taste 
for  literature,  and  a desire  to  understand  what 
he  reads.  It  will  also  be  found  extremely 
beneficial  to  the  Tyro  in  every  seminary  of 
learning. 

In  a performance  of  this  kind  no  one  will 
search  for  monuments  of  genius  or  invention  ; 
all  the  merit  which  can  be  sought  for  in  works 
of  this  nature  is,  industry  in  extracting  the 
materials  from  a great  variety  of  authors,  an- 
cient and  modern  ; brevity  and  perspicuity  in 
the  construction ; and  judgment  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  them.  It  is  hoped  this  little 
book  will  appear  to  be  entitled,  so  far,  to  com- 
mendation. 


PREFACE. 


viii 

A copious  Index  is  added  to  the  -whole, 
which  contains,  not  only  proper  references  to 
the  names  and  chapters  of  which  the  work  is 
composed,  but  a great  variety  of  other  explan- 
atory articles,  among  which,  the  different 
names  and  titles  of  the  several  deities  are  in- 
serted, so  that  if  any  God  or  Goddess  shall  be 
found  spoken  of,  or  alluded  to,  under  a name, 
or  title,  differing  from  that  which  they  com- 
monly bear,  the  Index  will  immediately  shew 
. to-which  of  them  that  title  belongs. 

EDITOR. 


Worcester,  October^  1809. 


INTRODUCTION. 


PEOPLE  of  weak  minds  and  of  little  learning, 
who  have  tasted  the  Pierian  spring,  but  not  drank 
deep  at  it,  when  they  read  an  account  of  the  Heathen 
Gods  and  Goddesses,  and  of  the  images  dedicated  to 
them,  and  hear  that  the  heathens  were  Idolaters,  or 
worshippers  of  Images,  give  credit  to  those  stories, 
without  any  further  inquiry  or  trouble.  It  may  not, 
therefore,  be  unnecessary  to  inform  persons  of  this  dc“ 
scription,  that  the  people  of  all  the  nations  which  ever 
existed  under  heaven,  have  believed  that  there  existed 
one  God,  who  is  Almighty;  and  the  maker  of  all 
things.  But  there  have  been  people  who  believed  also 
in  inferior  or  subordinate  gods,  who  were  agents,  or 
mediators  between  God  and  man  ; and  who  were  em- 
ployed in  carrying  on  the  works  of  Providence  and  of 
the  creation,  or  nature  ; just  as  those  who  profess  the 
Poman  Catholic  religion,  now  believe  in  the  power, 
agency  and  beneficence  of  the  different  orders  of  an- 
gels, and  of  the  saints ; to  whom  they  are  in  the  habit 
of  addressing  their  prayers. 

According  to  Varro,  w ho  w^as  the  most  learned  of 
all  the  Romans,  the  heathens  divided  their  mythology 
into  poetical  or  fabulous,  philosophical  or  physical  and 
civil ; so  that  their  poetical  gods  and  goddesses  all  be- 
long to  the  fabhlous  theology  ; and  w-ere  not  objects 
of  belief  or  w^orship,  any  more  than  the  saints  are 
among  the  Roman  Catholics.  That  the  greatest  of 
the  poetical  gods  were  considered  as  merely  local  dei- 
ties, who  had  the  care  of  particular  countries,  or  cit- 
ies, is  evident  from  the  consideration  that  almost  all 
the  ancient  cities  had  a Jupiter,  whose  authority  did 


INTRODUCTION. 


not  extend  beyond  the  limits  of  the  city.  In  different 
countries  they  had  different  appellations.  Jupiter,  at 
Carthage,  was  called  Jupiter  Ammon. ...In  Egypt,  Se- 
rapis....In  Athens,  Jupiter  01ympius....In  Rome,  Jupi- 
ter Capitolinus....and  there  was  hardly  a town  in  Italy 
which  had  not  its  Jupiter.  Indeed  sometimes  it  hap- 
pened that  there  were  in  the  same  city  Jupiters  of  dif- 
ferent denominations ; as  the  Optimus  Maximus  Ju- 
piter; the  Mild  Jupiter;  the  Terrible  Jupiter;  the 
Jupiter  Tonans;  the  Jupiter  Fulminans;  the  Jupiter 
Eulgurator  and  the  Jupiter  Pluvius. 

They  had  twelve  Celestial  Deities  called  the  Dii 
majorum  Gentium^  whose  names  were  Jupiter,  Juno, 
Minerva,  Neptune,  Venus,  Mars,  Vulcan,  Mercury, 
Vesta,  Apollo,  Diana  and  Ceres.  These  may  be  con- 
sidered as,  in  some  degree,  placed  as  an  equivalent  for 
the  different  orders  in  the  Jewish  celestial  Hierarchy. 

They  had  also  their  Dii  minorum  Gentium;  these 
Were  six,  viz.  Hercules,  Bacchus,  Esculapius,  Romu- 
lus, Castor  and  Pollux.  These  were  inferior  to  the 
©thers,  on  account  of  not  having  so  great  antiquity ; 
and,  moreover  they  were  not  entirely  of  celestial  de- 
scent ; their  mothers  having  been  women.  In  the  fol- 
lowing work  they  are  not  arranged  exactly  in  this 
manner ; but  from  the  account  there  given  of  them, 
which  is  collected  from  heathen  authors,  it  is  evident 
that  the  heathens  themselves  could  got  believe  any  one 
of  them  to  be  the  maker  of  the  world  ; for  Saturn,  the 
oldest  of  all  this  group  of  gods,  and  the  father  of  Jupi- 
ter himself,  is  said  to  be  the  son  of  Coelum  and  Terra, 
that  is,  heaven  and  earth  ; therefore  it  is  evident  they 
thought  the  world  existed  before  he  was  born.  When 
St.  Jerome  disputed  with  the  heathen  philosophers  of 
his  time  about  their  gods,  they  explained  them  to  be 
merely  symbolical  representations  of  things.  Jupiter 
was  fire,  Juno  the  air,  Neptune  the  water,  &c.  so  that 
in  defending  their  religion  they  lost  their  gods.  That 
Saturn  was  nothing  more  than  a symbol  of  Time  is  evi- 
dent from  the  representations  made  of  him.  His  name 


Ili^TRODtJCTTON. 


xi 

in  the  Greek  language  is  Chronos ; an^  Chronos  ig  the 
Greek  word  tor  Time.  Thus  the  fable  of  Saturn  de- 
vouring his  own  children  i^  natural  enough  ; for  time 
destroys  all  things.  Jupiter  is  the  son  of  Saturn  and 
Ops,  or  Cybele,  or  the  earth,  and  dethrones  Saturn. 

My  limits  in  this  introduction  would  not  admit  of  an 
explanation  of  all  the  heathen  fables,  and  allegories  ; 
it  may  therefore  suffice  to  say,  that,  as  they  had  ac- 
counts of  the  ORIGIN  of  all  their  gods,  it  is  sufficiently 
evident  that  they  did  not  consider  any  one  of  them 
as  that  ETEE  jN  AL  BEING  who  is  without  begin- 
ning and  without  end. 

The  heathen  are  accused  of  worshipping  inanimate 
things.  It  is  said  the  Persians  worshipped  Fire  ; the 
Lybians,  the  Sun,  Moon  and  Stars;  the  Babylonians, 
the  Fish  Oannes ; the  Thebans,  Thessalians,  Syro- 
Phoenicians,  Egyptians,  &c.  a variety  of  animals  and 
even  plants.  These  charges,  1 believe,  are  advanced 
on  mistaken  principles.  Ihe  Magians  and  those  who 
were  called  worshippers  of  Fire,  worshipped  toward 
the  Mithra,  or  Sun,  as  the  habitation,  or  emblem  of  the 
Divinity.  Nor  can  I believe  that  there  ever  was  a de- 
scription of  men,  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  who  were 
stupid  enough  to  worship  dogs,  cats,  leeks  and  onions, 
as  gods.  In  order  to  explain  these  matters  more  fully, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  advert  to  tlie  Egyptian  philos- 
ophy. 'ihe  Egyptians  held  that  the  Supreme  Being 
existed  from  all  eternity;  that  he  created  Celestial 
Beings,  w Inch  they  called  ilions.  1 hese  w^ere  of  dif- 
ferent orders  or  degrees ; and  although  the  Supreme 
Being  was  called  the  Pleroma,  and  filled  ail  things; 
yet  the  Dsmiurgus,  one  of  the  superior  order  of 
A^'ons,  made  the  world,  apparently  without  the  kaowi- 
edge  and  consent  cf  the  Supreme  Being.  These  7Eons 
8-lso  created  other  jEons  inferior  to  themselves  in 
power  and  eminence,  wdiich  inferior  VEons  were  sup- 
posed by  the  Egyptians  to  reside  in  different  animals 
and  plants.  Hence  arose  their  veneration  for  different 
animals  and  plants ; not  that  they  w^orshipped  them  as 


INTR©i>l7CTI01ir* 


gods ; but  they  considered  them  as  sacred  on  account 
of  their  being  the  residence  of  superior  beings.  That 
they  could  not  believe  they  were  gods  is  evident  from 
this...that  the  people  of  the  different  cities  of  Egypt  held 
different  opinions  ; and  the  inhabitants  of  one  city  ate 
what  those  of  another  city  considered  as  sacred.  A 
war  broke  out  between  the  Tyntirites  and  Omphites, 
because  one  party  considered  crocodiles  as  sacred,  and 
the  other  killed  and  ate  them. 

The  belief  that  the  Egyptians  considered  monkeys, 
leeks,  onions,  cats,  dogs,  &c.  as  gods,  came  from  the 
Roman  satirists;  but  people  should  consider  that  poets 
deal  in  fiction,  and  that  their  assertions  ought  not  to 
pass  for  historical  truth.  If  Virgil  has  told  us  that 
when  Encelatius  turns  himself  in  his  uneasy  bed,  he 
makes  an  eruption  of  Etna,  are  we  therefore  to  be* 
lieve  it  ? But  on  no  better  authority  have  the  absurd 
practises  ascribed  to  the  Egyptians  obtained  belief; 
which  is  founded  on  a passage  in  Juvenal  that  is  thus 
translated. 

Who  has  not  heard  w^here  Egypt’s  realms  are  nam’d', 
What  monster  gods  her  frantic  sons  have  fram’d  ? 
Here  Ibis  gorg’d  with  well  grown  serpents,  there 
The  Crocodile  commands  religious  fear : 

Where  Memnon’s  statue  magic  springs  inspire 
With  vocal  sounds,  that  emulate  the  lyre  ; 

And  Thebes,  such  Fate,  are  thy  disastrous  turcs? 
Kow  prostrate  o’er  her  pompous  ruins  mourns ; 

A Monkey  God,  prodigious  to  be  told  ! 

Strikes  the  beholder’s  eye  in  burnish’d  gold ; 

To  godship  here,  blue  Triton’s  scaly  herd, 

The  river’s  progeny  is  here  preferr’d  : 

Through  towns  Diana’s  pow’r  neglected  lies. 

Where  to  her  dogs  aspiring  temples  rise : 

And  should  you  Leeks  or  Onions  eat,  no  time 


INTRODUCTION. 


xiii 


Would  expiate  the  sacrilegious  crime— 

Rejigious  nations,  sure,  and  blest  abodes, 

Where  evhy  Orchard  is  o’errun  with  gods! 

It  has  been  said  that  these  different  and  hostile  sys« 
terns  of  religion  were  introduced  by  one  of  the  ancient 
kings  of  Egypt,  who  wanted  to  set  his  subjects  togeth- 
er by  the  ears,  in  order  to  take  off  their  attention  from 
his  government.  I do  not  believe  the  Egyptians  ever 
were  such  fools  as  to  be  so  imposed  on.  I rather  think 
that  all  the  systems  of  the  Egyptian  religion  had  their 
origin  in  tlie  Egyptian  philosophy  I have  mentioned ; 
and  that,  like  the  people  of  all  other  countries,  they 
became  divided  into  different  sects ; some  believing  what 
others  denied.  But  that  any  of  them  worshipped 
leeks,  onions,  dogs,  cats,  &c.  as  has  commonly  been 
reported,  I never  can  believe;  I will  not  believe  the 
Egyptians  ever  were  subject  to  such  abominable  stu- 
pidity. They  were  a lettered  people ; and  letters 
denote  a state  of  civilization  ; but  to  suppose  they 
were,  as  they  are  described  by  Juvenal,  is  to  degrade 
them  below  the  most  stupid  and  barbarous  savages. 

Nor  will  I believe  that  the  following  incongruous 
collection  of  gods  and  goddesses  were  ever  worshipped 
among  the  enlightened  nations  of  antiquity.  We  know 
they  excited  the  contempt  of  the  philosophers,  and  the 
ridicule  of  the  poets:  And  in'the  most  religious  epo- 
chas  of  the  heathen  world,  I conceive  they  were  con- 
gidered  merely  as  the  mediators  between  God  and  man  ; 
and  the  worship  addressed  to  them  was  much  of  the 
game  description  as  that  which  the  Roman  Catholics 
now  pay  to  their  saints.  That  the  most  ignorant  peo- 
ple held  them  in  greater  veneration  than  the  wisest,  is 
easy  to  believe  ; as  well  as  that  there  were  those  who 
considered  Demons,  Furies,  Harpies,  Gorgeons,  Chimae- 
ras.  Centaurs,  Satyrs,  &c.  as  realities:  We  have  a- 

mong  us  believers  in  ghosts,  hobgoblins,  witches,  &c. 

The  Egyptians  never  pretended  that  the  articles 
which  Juvenal  says  they  worshipped  were  gods ; but 

R 


INTEODFCTIOJ^. 


Stiv 

they  said  the  respect  paid  to  them  was  on  account  of 
their  utility.  They  honored  oxen,  sheep  and  dogs  for 
their  usefulness.  The  Ibis  or  Stork,  because  he  de- 
stroyed the  flying  serpents:  The  Crocodile,  because 
the  terror  of  him  kept  away  the  wild  Arabs : The 
Ichneumon,  because  he  prevented  the  Crocodiles  from 
increasing  to  an  inconvenient  number. 

It  has  been  generally  understood  that  the  heathen 
worshipped  Images,  as  gods;  and,  hence  they  have 
been  called  idolatorg.  The  use  they  made  of  Images  is 
suiflciently  explained  by  Plutarch  in  his  treatise  of 
Isis  and  Osiris.  “ Philosophers  honor  the  image  of 
God,  wherever  they  find  it,  even  in  inanimate  beings, 
and,  consequently  more  in  those  which  have  life.  AVe 
are,  therefore,  to  approve,  not  the  worshippers  of  these 
animals^  hut  those  who  by  their  means  ascend  to  the  Dei- 
ty ; they  are  to  be  considered  as  so  many  mirrors, 
which  nature  holds  forth,  and  in  which  the  SUPREME 
BEING  displays  himself  in  a wonderful  manner ; or, 
as  so  many  instruments,  which  he  makes  use  of  to  man- 
ifest, outwardly,  his  incomprehensible  wisdom.  Should 
men,  therefore,  for  the  embellishing  of  statues,  amass 
together  all  the  gold  and  precious  stones  in  the  world, 
the  worship  must  not  he  referred  to  the  statues ; for  the 
Deity  does  not  exist  in  colours  artfully  disposed,  nor 
in  frail  matter  destitute  of  sense  and  motion,''^  Again, 
“ As  the  sun  and  moon,  heaven,  earth  and  sea,  are 
Common  to  all  men,  but  have  difierent  names,  accord- 
ing to  the  difference  of  nations  and  languages ; in  like 
manner,  though  there  is  but  one  Deity,  and  one  Provi- 
dence which  governs  the  unirtrse,  and  which  has  several 
anbaltern  ministers  under  it,  men  give  to  this  Deity 
which  is  the  same,  different  names,  and  pay  it  different 
honors,  according  to  the  laws  and  customs  of  every 
country.’^ 

In  this  passage  Plutarch,  who  was  a heathen,  gives 
us  the  sense  of  the  whole  heathen  world. 

Perhaps,  after  all,  the  idea  of  the  twelve  Celestial 
deities  may  have  been  taken  from  the  twelve  of 


larTJRODtTCTION® 


XV 

the  Zodiac  ; and  the  six  terrestrial  gods  may  relate  to 
the  state  and  nature  of  man.  Bacchus  is  youth,  Her*= 
cules  strength,  Esculapius  health,  &c....and  thus 
may  all  the  heathen  gods  and  goddesses  be  resolved  in«> 
to  types,  allegories  and  symbols. 

From  the  works  of  Herodotus,  lOiodorv^  Siculus,  So- 
linijs,  Ammianus  Marcellinus,  &c.  &c.  learn  that 
Osiris,  Apis,  or  Mnevis,  the  chief  god  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, was  worshipped  in  the  shape  of  a bull,  in  which 
the  god  became  incarnate.  This  god  they  believed  to 
be  immortal ; but  they  knew  the  bulls  by  which  he 
was  represented  were  not  immortal.  A common  bull 
would  not  answer  their  purpose ; that  which  they  be- 
lieved to  be  a kind  of  Sechin  ah,  or  representative  of 
the  Divinity,  was  always  discov^ered  by  particular 
marks.  His  body  was  to  be  all  black,  except  a square 
spot  of  white  on  his  forehead.  He  was  to  have  the  figure 
of  an  eagle,  according  to  some,  or  of  a half  moon,  as  oth- 
ers say,  on  his  baxk  ; a double  list  of  hair  on  his  tail,  and 
a scaraboeus,  or  knot,  under  his  tongue.  For  such  a bull 
as  this  they  searched  all  Egypt,  and,  when  they  had 
found  him,  they  brought  him  with  great  rejoicing  to 
the  Temple  of  Osiris,  where  they  kept  him  as  the  repre- 
sentative of  their  god,  as  long  as  he  lived ; and  when 
he  was  dead  they  sought  all  through  the  country  for 
another,  after  having  buried  the  deceased  bull  with 
great  solemnity,  No^v  as  they  saw  so  many  of  these 
bulls  calved,  reared,  dead  and  buried,  it  was  impossible 
they  could  believe  them  to  be  immortal ; and,  of  course, 
they  could  not  believe  them  to  be  gods.  It  is  evident, 
therefore,  that  our  charging  the  crime  of  idolatry,  in 
the  literal  sense  of  the  word,  to  account  of  the  heath- 
en,  is  doing  them  great  injustice ; and  heaping  on  their 
memory  a calumny,  which  w e have  no  right  to  charge 
upon  them. 

We  are  very  apt  to  revile  the  Jews  as  an  illiberal, 
narrow  minded  race  of  men,  yet  Josephus,  who  wms  a 
Jewr,  speaks  against  that  practice  of  which  I am  now 
speaking.  He  expressly  deelares  that  it  is  unjust  an:k 


INTRODUCTIOIV. 


xvi 

wrong  to  revile  the  religion  of  any  nation,  because  it 
differs  from  our  own.  And  that  celebrated  and  learn- 
ed divine  and  historian,  Doctor  Humphrey  Prideaux, 
produces  several  instances  wherein  divine  vengeance 
has,  apparently,  overtaken  those  who  persecuted,  or 
ridiculed,  the  religion  of  other  nations. 

1.  He  relates  the  instance  of  Cambyses,  who  being 
of  that  Persian  sect  which  worshipped  fire,  as  the  only 
symbol  of  the  Divine  Nature,  they  persecuted  those 
who  used  other  symbols  in  their  religious  worship. 
For  this  reason  w^hen  the  Egyptian  Apis  was  set  be- 
fore him,  in  order  to  shew  his  contempt  of  the  religion 
of  Egypt,  he  inflicted  a wound  on  the  symbol  of  the 
god,  whereof  he  languished  and  died.  A few  days  af- 
ter, as  Cambyses  was  mounting  his  horse,  his  sword 
fell  from  the  scabbard,  and  wounded  him  exactly  in 
the  same  part  of  his  thigh  wherein  he  had  wounded  the 
bull ; and  the  Egyptians  had  ample  revenge  for  the 
insult  offered  to  their  religion,  as  Cambyses  died  in 
consequence  of  this  accident ; and  they  considered  it 
as  a punishment  inflicted  by  their  god,  as  a reward  for 
his  impiety. 

2.  When  Antiochus  went  against  Elymais,  or  Pal- 
myra, he  intended  to  rob  the  temple  of  the  gods,  and 
thereby  insult  the  national  religion.  But  he  was 
beaten  off  with  disgrace,  and  died  a miserable  death; 
which  was  a punishment  for  this  his  sacrilegious  at- 
tempt ; and  a just  vengeance  inflicted  upon  him  on  ac- 
count of  the  injuries  he  had  done  to  the  Jews;  and  the 
mischief  he  had  occasioned  in  their  religious  affairs. 

3.  When  the  Gauls  made  their  irruption  into  the 
eastern  parts  of  Europe,  invading  Hungary,  Macedo- 
nia, Greece,  8zc.  the  second  Brennus,  w^ho  was  their 
principal  commander,  took  it  into  his  head  to  make  an 
expedition  into  Delphos,  in  order  to  plunder  the  tem- 
ple of  Apollo  ; Brennus  .facetiously  observing  to  his 
Eieutenant,  Acichorius,  that  “ the  gods  ought,  in  rea- 
son, to  impart  some  of  their  riches  to  men,  who  had 
more  occasion  for  them  than  themselves,  and  employed 


liSTR0I3UCT20N.  ''  S.Vii 

them  liiaijet^er  iRanner.’’  Almost  all  the  authors 
ivho  treat  of  this  event,  say  that  it  was  attended  with 
extraordinary  circumstances ; for  they  say  that  when 
JBrennus  approached  the  temple  of  Delphos,  the  skies 
were  blackened  with  a dreadful  tempest,  and  great 
numbers  of  his  men  were  destroyed  by  hailstones  and 
thunder,  attended  by  an  earthquake,  which  threw  down 
the  mountains,  and  rent  the  rocks,  which  fell  and 
orushed  the  gauls,  by  hundreds  at  a time.  The  rc» 
maining  troops  were  seized  with  such  a panic  the  en- 
suing night,  as  caused  them  to  mistake  their  own  men 
for  an  enemy  ; in  consequence  whereof,  before  daylight 
appeared,  they  had  destroyed  each  other  in  such  a 
manner,  that  not  above  one  half  of  their  number  were 
left  alive.  The  Greeks  flew  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  to  the  defence  of  their  temple,  and  made  such 
havoc  with  the  Gauls  that  Brennus  destroyed  himself 
with  his  own  sword,  and  the  miserable  remains  of  his 
army  under  Acichoriiis  were  pursued  by  cold,  hunger 
and  the  sword,  until  they  were  all  destroyed.  !Now, 
although  the  Greeks  might  exaggerate  this  event,  in 
order  to  make  it  appear  that  they  were  the  favorites 
of  the  gods,  yet  from  the  concurrent  testimony  of  so 
many  ancient  writers  as  have  mentioned  this  affair,  we 
must  suppose  that  something  extraordinary  happened  ; 
and  the  Dean  of  Norwich  has  concluded  that  we  have 
not  sufficient  reason  to  disbelieve  the  facts  vrhich  this 
history  relates ; for  the  enterpi  ize  of  Brennus  was, 
undoubtedly,  a sacrilegious  piece  of  impiety,  and  in- 
tended as  an  insult  to  religion,  as  well  as  to  the  Deity; 
and  demonstrated  that  he  did  not  believe  in  the  power 
or  justice  of  the  immortal  beings,  or  Being.  And  it  is 
hence  very  justly  inferred  that  the  living  and  true  God 
would  interfere  to  punish  contumely  and  insolence, 
^ven  if  offered  to  a false  religion. 

Having  stated  these  examples  to  shew  the  impropri- 
ety of  treating  any  description  of  religion  vrith  unne- 
cesLsary  disrssjject,  I now  proseed  to  state  some  fact^ 
js  £ 


xviii 


JMTRODUCTIOjV. 


which  prove  that  the  religion  of  the  Gentile  nations 
has,  generally,  been  misrepresented. 

1.  Hesiod,  in  his  Theogony,  or  history  of  the  gen- 
eration of  the  Gods,  represents  them  as  living  beings^ 
produced  by  other  living  beings,  and  not  as  a collection 
of  images,  or  statues,  from  the  hands  of  the  carver  or 
statuary  ; and  those  living  beings  were  the  objects  of 
adoration  among  the  Greeks.  Every  body  among  the 
Greeks  knew  that  the  renowned  statue  of  Jupiter 
Olympius  was  made  by  Phidias ; and  that  it  was 
made  of  marble;  and  not  a living  image  descended 
from  a god...,but  they  did  believe  that  the  gods  were 
immediately  present  in  their  temples,  where  their 
statues  were.. ..just  as  the  Jews  believed  that  the  Deity 
was  present  in  his  temple,  more  immediately  than  else- 
where. 

2.  Homer,  every  where  speaks  of  heaven  as  the 
place  of  the  residence  of  the  gods.  It  was  from  thence 
that  they  descended  to  the  earth  for  any  special  pur- 
poses. From  thence  Mercury,  or  Iris,  are  dispatched, 
with  messages  to  men,  and  on  other  particular  occa- 
sions. He  calls  them  the  Immortals^  and  all  their  ac- 
tions are  the  actions  of  living  beings.  There  is  no 
mention  of  images  or  idols  being  considered  as  gods, 
or  being  present  in  any  of  those  religious  rites  which 
were  performed  by  the  Greeks ; who  sacrificed  to  the 
heavenly  powers  on  almost  all  occasions.  Nearly  all 
their  meals  were  sacrifices,  and  they  hardly  ever  drank 
without  pouring  out  a libation  to  the  gods.  They  did 
not  suppose  that  when  Homer  speaks  of  Neptune,  Mi- 
nerva, Apollo  and  Venus  as  engaging  in  the  battle  be- 
tween the  Greeks  and  Trojans,  it  would  have  been 
possible  for  him  to  have  ascribed  such  actions  as  he  at- 
tributes to  them,  to  images.  In  his  writings  we  fre- 
quently find  Minerva  shrouding  herself  in  darkness, 
becoming  invisible,  appearing  to  Telamachiis  in  the 
form  of  Mentor,  and  to  Ulysses  in  different  shapes. 
So  Mercury  has  intercourse  with  Ulysses  in  a variety 
of  shapes,  and  Proteus  changes  himself  into  almost  all 


IJiTRODUCTION. 


xix 

kinds  of  things  and  forms.  It  would  be  insulting  the 
understanding  of  the  reader  to  attempt  to  convince  him 
that  all  these  transformations  were  not  ascribed  to  im- 
ages,  by  so  wise  a man  as  Homer. 

3.  Virgil  was  familiarly  acquainted  with  statues, 
images,  or  idols;  they  were  common  enough  in  his 
time... .though  I apprehend  they  were  not  very  plenty 
in  the  days  of  Homer.  Yet  Virgil,  every  where,  rep- 
resents his  gods  as  immortal....as  the  same  beings  which 
were  living  at  the  time  of  the  Trojan  war;  that  is, 
perhaps,  from  one  to  two  thousand  years  before  the 
time  of  Virgil.  It  is  true  he  speaks  of  images,  and 
tells  us  that  jEneas  carried  otf  his  bundle  of  parvique 
Fenales^  or  household  gods ; but  those  were  a kind  of 
talismans  which  had  been  in  fashion  through  all  anti« 
quity.  They  were  the  same  kind  of  earthen  gods 
which  were  made  by  Terah,  the  father  of  Abraham, 
and  which  Hachel  stole  from  her  father  Laban ; which 
it  is  evident,  were  very  small,  because  she  could  hide 
them  by  sitting  on  them. 

4.  Ovid  has  written  learnedly  on  the  feasts  and  fasts 
of  the  Romans ; and  we  find  through  all  his  writings 
that  the  gods  they  worshipped  were  living,  and  irnmor- 
lal  beings,  not  gods  of  brass,  silver,  gold,  wood  or 
stone.  His  metamorphoses  are  also  produced  by  the 
power  of  the  living  gods,  who,  we  find,  as  in  the  cases 
of  Latoiia  and  !Niobe,  and  Medusa,  did  sometimes 
change  mortals  into  stone ; but  I cannot  find  that  a 
mortal  could  ever  metamorphose  a stone  into  a god. 

5.  To  set  this  matter  in  a clearer  point  of  view,  L 
will  here  produce  a few  passages  from  some  of  the  Ro- 
man poets,  in  order  to  shew  in  how  despicable  and 
contemptible  a light  the  idea  of  idol  gods  appeared  to 
them. 

Thus  Horace  wrote : 

Olim  tr uncus  cram  Jiculnus^  inutile  lignum, 

€lumfab€r  incertus  scamnum,  facer  due  Priapum, 
esse  Dcim, 


IKTB0DUenON, 


'AX 

Lucian  expresses  his  opinion  in  these  words*— 

Est  ne  Dei  sedes,  nisi  terra  et  pontus  et  aer. 

We  read  in  Ovid ; 

Colliiur  pro  Jove  forum  Jovis. 

Martial  says, 

Quifinxit  sacros  auro  vel  marmore  vulius^ 

Non  facit  ille  Deos, 

In  Statius  w^e  read, 

Nulla  auium  effigies  nulli  commissa  maiella, 

Forma  Dies  mtnies  habitare  ac  numina  gaudti* 

A great  variety  of  passages  to  the  same  effect  might 
he  produced,  but  these  will  be  sufficient  to  show  that 
the  gentiles  w ere  not  idolaters  in  the  literal  sense  of 
the  word. 

And  in  order  to  shew,  in  a stronger  light,  how  ex- 
tremely common  it  is  for  the  professors  of  one  descrip- 
tion of  religion  to  slander  those  of  another,  I might 
produce  a thousand  instances  of  calumnies  invented  a- 
gainst  the  pure  religions  of  the  Jews  and  Christians. 
Apion,  the  Egyptian,  invented  a story  that  the  Jews, 
who  utterly  abhorred  all  pictures  and  statues,  worship- 
ped the  head  of  an  Ass ; which  ridiculous  charge  is  re- 
peated by  that  grave  and  wise  historian  Plutarch. 
And  in  consequence  of  their  presenting  the  golden 
vine  to  Pompey,  Florus  spoke  of  it  as  their  god;  and 
said  that  Pompey  saw,  in  their  temple,  ike  grand  impi^ 
efy^  a vine  under  a golden  heaven. 

As  to  the  Christians  “ the  philosophers  accused  them 
of  the  most  monstrous  impiety  and  charged  them  with 
renewing  the  shocking  feast  of  Thyestes,  and  the  in- 
cestuous amours  of  the  Theban  prince.”*  These  facts 
should  lead  Christians  to  judge,  and  speak,  W'ith  can- 
dour, of  the  religion  of  the  gentiles. 

Mosh^w?s  Eccl  Hist.  Vol.  i.  p.  158- 


HISTOEt^ 


OP  THE 

HEATHEN  GODS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

JUPITER. 

JUPITER  is  the  father  and  king  of  gods 
and  men.  He  was  represented  sitting  on  a 
throne  of  ivory  and  gold,  holding  thunder  in 
his  right  hand,  and,  in  the  left,  a sceptre  made 
of  cypress ; which  wood,  being  free  from  cor- 
ruption, is  a symbol  of  eternal  empire.  On  this 
sceptre  sits  an  eagle ; either  because  he  Avas 
•brought  up  by  it,  or  that  heretofore  that  bird, 
sitting  u{)on  his  head,  portended  his  reign  ; or 
because  in  the  war  against  the  giants,  it  brought 
him  the  thunder,  and  thence  was  called  the  ar- 
mor hearer.  He  had  golden  shoes,  and  an  em- 
broidered cloak,  adorned  with  various  dowers, 
and  hgures  of  animals.  But  he  used  to  be 
decked  differently,  for  the  variety  of  his  names, 
and  of  the  people  among  whom  he  was  wor- 
shipped. The  Lacedemonians  erected  a stat- 
ue of  him  without  ears;  but  the  Cretans  gave 
him  four.  Upon  holidays  his  face  was  painted 
with  vermilion,  as  the  images  of  the  other  gods 


24 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


were  smeared  with  ointments,  and  dressed  with 
garlands. 

There  were  very  many  Jupiters  all  sprung 
from  a different  race.  Varro  reckons  up  three 
hundred,  and  others  many  more ; seeing  there 
was  no  nation,  almost,  which  did  not  worship  a 
Jupiter,  and  supposed  him  to  have  been  born 
among  themselves. 

Tully  says,  that  there  were  three  remarkable 
of  that  name  ; one  begot  of  iEther,  another  of 
Ccelus,  and  these  born  in  Arcadia  : The  third 
a Cretan,  son  of  Saturn  and  Ops,  the  most  fa* 
mous  of  all ; to  whom  therefore  are  usually  as- 
cribed all  that  the  poets  feigned  about  the  oth- 
er Jupiters. 

He  was  educated,  as  well  as  born,  upon  Ida, 
a mountainrof  Crete  ; but  by  whom,  there  are 
a great  variety  of  opinions. 

There  are  some  who  adirm,  that  he  was  nur- 
sed by  the  Curetes,  or  Corybantes ; some,  by 
the  Nymphs,  and  some,  by  Amaltha3a,  daugh- 
ter of  Melissus,  king  of  that  island.  Others, 
on  the  contrary,  have  recorded,  that  he  was  fed 
by  the  bees  with  honey  ; others  by  goat’s  milk  ; 
others  by  doves  ; not  a few,  by  an  eagle  ; and 
many,  by  a bear.  It  is  the  opinion  of  some, 
that  Amalthcsa  was  not  a young  princess  roy- 
al, but  the  very  goat  which  suckled  Jupiter; 
whose  horn  he  is  said  to  have  given  afterwards 
to  his  nurses,  with  this  admirable  privilege,  that 
whoever  possessed  it,  should  immediately  ob- 
tain whatever  he  desired.  They  add,  besides, 
that  the  goat  being  dead,  and  her  skin  pulled 


HEATHEN  GODS*  2^ 

off,  Jupiter  made  of  it  a*  shield,  called  iEgig, 
which  he  used  afterwards  in  the  battle  against 
the  giants ; and,  that  he  placed  her  at  last,  re- 
stored again  to  life,  among  the  constellations. 

As  to  his  actions  worthy  of  memory,  having 
Subdued  the  Titans  and  giants  in  war,  he  de- 
livered his  father  from  imprisonment,  but  after- 
wards deposed  him  from  the  throne,  and  expel- 
led him  the  kingdom,  because  he  had  formed  a 
conspiracy  against  him  5 and  then  divided  the 
paternal  inheritance  with  his  two  brothers  Nep- 
tune  and  Pluto.  He  so  obliged  and  assisted 
mankind  by  great  favors,  that  he  not  only  got 
the  name  of  Jupiter,  but  also  obtained  divine 
honors,  and  was  esteemed  the  common  father 
of  gods  and  men.  Among  his  celebrated  ex- 
ploits, was  the  punishment  of  Lycaon,  king  of 
Arcadia.  For  when  a rumor  came  up  to  hea- 
ven concerning  the  wickedness  and  impiety  of 
mortals,  being  to  search  the  truth  more  certain- 
ly, he  is  said  to  have  descended,  and  ranged 
the  whole  earth  in  a human  shape.  At  last  en- 
tering  Lycaon’s  house,  and  declaring  himself 
a God,  whilst  others  were  preparing  sacrifices, 
he  was  derided  by  the  king ; who,  with  a de» 
sign  of  proving  the  divinity  of  the  pretended 
deity,  killed  one  of  his  own  domestics,  and  ser- 
ved up  his  flesh  roasted  and  boiled  to  table  be- 
fore Jupiter,  for  his  entertainment. 

But  the  god,  abhorring  the  barbarity  of  the 
man,  sent  forth  his  thunder,  fired  the  palace, 
and  turned  his  majesty  himself  into  a w^olf. 

His  other  actions  are  very  lewd  and  dishon- 
c 


20 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


©rable;  for  hardly  was  there  any  kind  of  wick- 
edness, whereof  he  had  not  been  guilty,  or  mark 
©f  infamy,  wherewith  he  is  not  branded. 

I shall  mention  only  a few  of  many.  In  the 
shape  of  a crow  he  debauched  his  sister  Juno, 
who  was  deluded  by  the  hope  and  promises  of 
marriage;  as  many  ladies  are.  He  ravished 
Danae,  daughter  of  Acrisius,  king  of  the  Ar- 
gives,  being  turned  into  a golden  shower.  He 
also,  transformed  into  a swan,  corrupted  Leda, 
wife  of  Tindarus,  king  of  Laconia.  He  de- 
flowered Antiope,  married  to  Lycus,  king  of 
Thebes,  in  the  person  of  a satyr.  He  defiled 
Alcmena,  Amphltrione’s  wife,  in  the  likeness 
of  her  husband.  He  inflamed  iEgina,  daugh- 
ter of  iEsopus,  king  of  Bceotia,  in  the  simili- 
tude of  fire.  He  abused  Clytoris,  a Thessalian 
virgin  of  great  beauty,  in  the  shape  of  an  ant. 
He  offered  violence  to  Calisto,.  daughter  of  hy- 
caon,  king  of  Arcadia,  and  counterfeiting  the 
modesty  and  countenance  of  Diana,  robbed 
her  of  her  virginity.  When  she  was  obliged 
to  wash  in  a fountain,  together  with  the  god- 
dess, and  the  other  nymphs,  her  crime  being 
discovered,  she  was  disgracefully  turned  away 
by  Diana,  and  afterwards  changed  by  Juno  in- 
to a bear;  but  Jupiter  took  away  her  disgrace, 
by  advancing  her  among  the  constellations. 
Having  assumed  the  figure  of  a bull  of  exqui- 
site whiteness,  he  carried  away  into  Crete, 
Europa,  descended  of  Agenor,  king  of  Phoeni- 
cia, and  violated  her  chastity.  He,  resembling 
m eagle,  forced  Asteria,  daughter  of  Cmus,  a 


HEATHEN  ©ODS. 


27 


lady  of  the  greatest  modesty,  to  yield  to  his 
impure  desires,  and  snatched  her  away  in  his 
talons.  Under  the  same  form  also,  he  caught 
up  into  heaven  the  pretty  boy  Ganymede,  son 
of  Tros,  as  he  was  hunting  upon  the  mountain 
Ida. 

Of  how  many  several  beasts  that  man  takes 
the  figure,  who  has  once  put  otF  his  modesty ! 
And  by  how  many  fables  this  one  truth  is  rep- 
resented, that  the  gods  themselves,  by  impure 
lust,  become  brutes ! 

Jupiter  had  names  almost  innumerable; 
which  he  obtained,  either  from  the  places  where 
he  lived,  and  wherein  he  was  worshipped,  or 
from  the  things  which  he  did.  The  more  re- 
markable of  them,  as  also  of  the  other  Gods  and 
Goddesses,  are  set  down  at  the  end  of  this  book 
in  an  alphabetical  order. 

These  are  the  dreams  of  the  poets  concern- 
ing Jupiter;  but  historians  say,  that  he  was 
truly  king  of  Crete,  and  contemporary  with  the 
patriarch  Abraham : That  having  deposed  his 
father,  he  divided  the  kingdom  with  his  two 
brothers.  And,  whereas  the  countries  situat- 
ed towards  the  east,  fell  by  lot  to  Jupiter,  the 
western  parts  to  Pluto,  and  the  maritime  to 
Neptune,  they  hence  feigned,  that  the  first  was 
king  and  god  of  heaven,  the  second  of  hell, 
and  the  third  of  the  sea. 

Some  writers  of  character  pretend  to  find 
the  sons  of  Noah,  Shem,  Ham  and  Japhet,  in 
Jupiter,  Neptune  and  Pluto.  But  concerning 
the  mythologisls,  in  genera^  I shall  only  ob,- 


HEATHEN  G0©8. 


29 


serve,  that  there  is  such  a diversity  of  opinions 
among  them,  about  the  true  signification  of  the 
fiction;  and,  which  is  worse,  that  their  ac- 
counts are  so  insipid  and  impertinent,  nay,  so 
incongruous  to  the  very  fables  which  they  pre- 
tend to  explain,  that  I have  thought  fit,  rather 
to  pass  over  their  explanations  in  most  cases, 
than  advance  any  thing  wherein  the  mind  of 
the  reader  cannot  acquiesce,  leaving  to  every 
one  to  devise  his  own  interpretation. 


CHAPTER  II, 


JUNO. 

JUNO  is  the  queen  of  the  gods,  both  the 
sister  and  wife  of  Jupiter ; the  daughter  of  Sa^ 
turn  and  Ops ; born  in  the  island  Samos,  where 
she  lived  while  she  continued  a virgin. 

She  rides  in  a golden  chariot  drawn  by  pea- 
cocks, distinguished  by  a sceptre  and  crown 
set  about  with  roses  and  lilies.  Her  person  k 
august ; her  face  full  of  brightness,  beauty  and 
majesty  ; her  carriage  noble,  and  her  dress  el- 
ogant  and  fine. 

Iris,  the  daughter  of  Thaumas  and  Electra, 
also  sister  of  the  Harpies,  is  servant  and  pecul- 
iar messenger  of  Juno;  though  Jupiter  and  the 
other  gods,  yea  Furies  and  Men  too,  employed 
her.  Because  of  her  swiftness,  she  is  painted 
with  wings,  sitting  on  a rainbow  ; and  was  al- 
ways sent  to  promote  strife  and  dissension,  as 
c 2 


30 


IlKATHEN  GODS. 


if  she  was  goddess  of  discord.  It  was  also  her 
office  to  unloose  the  souls  of  dying  women, 
from  the  chains  of  the  body. 

Juno  had  by  Jupiter,  Vulcan,  Mars,  and 
Hebe ; although  some  say  that  Hebe  was  begot 
of  Juno  only : For  while  she  was  yet  childless, 
as  soon  as  she  ate  wild  lettuces,  set  before  her 
at  an  entertainment  in  the  royal  palace,  grow- 
ing suddenly  big  bellied,  she  brought  forth  He- 
be, who,  for  her  extraordinary  beauty,  was  by 
Jupiter  made  goddess  of  youth,  and  the  office 
of  serving  the  cup  to  him,  was  also  conferred 
on  her.  But  when,  by  an  unlucky  fall,  she 
caused  great  diversion  to  the  guests;  Jupiter, 
being  enraged,  turned  her  out  of  her  office,  and 
Ganimede  succeeded  in  her  stead. 

The  vice,  for  which  Juno  was  most  notori- 
ous, was  jealousy  ; whereof  I shall  give  only 
two  instances  out  of  many*  Jupiter  loved  lo, 
the  daughter  of  Inachus,  and  enjoyed  her. 
When  Juno  observed  that  her  husband  was  ab- 
sent from  heaven,  and  suspecting  an  intrigue 
to  be  the  cause,  she  immediately  flew  dowm  to 
the  earth,  and  luckily  found  the  place  where 
the  lovers  lay.  Jupiter,  perceiving  that  his 
wdfe  was  coming,  turned  the  maid  into  a most 
beautiful  cow\  Juno,  seeing  her,  inquired  who 
she  w as,  whose  she  was,  and  from  what  bull ; 
the  god  answered,  that  she  suddenly  sprung 
out  of  the  earth.  The  cunning  goddess  asked 
ber  in  a present,  and  the  husband  durst  not  re- 
fuse, lest  he  should  increase  her  suspicion. 
Juno  having  received  the  cow,  delivered  her 


itEATHEN  GODS. 


31 


io  Argus,  who  had  an  hundred  eyes,  whereof 
two  in  their  turns  slept,  when  the  rest  waked. 
The  cow  being  thus  under  a very  grievous 
confinement,  and  fed  only  with  insipid  leaves 
and  bitter  herbs,  Jupiter,  not  longer  suffering 
such  an  indignity,  despatched  Mercury  in  a 
shepherd’s  dress  to  Argus,  that  by  some  means 
he  might  set  Io  at  liberty. 

Mercury,  using  his  utmost  art,  at  last  charm- 
ed Argus  into  a sound  sleep  by  the  sweetness 
of  his  pipe;  and  when  he  was  thus  conquered, 
and  lulled  by  the  force  of  the  music,  he  cut  off 
his  head,  and  so  delivered  Io.  Juno;  that  she 
might  confer  deserved  honor  upon  her  faithful 
servant,  changed  him  into  a peacock,  and  a- 
dorned  his  tail  with  his  many  eyes : But  she 
committed  Io  to  the  Furies  to  be  tormented, 
and  drove  her  a vagabond  through  the  world : 
At  last  being  arrived  into  Eg}^pt,  she  entreat- 
ed Jupiter  that  he  would  restore  her  former 
shape ; which  she  not  only  obtained,  but  be- 
sides took  the  name  of  Isis,  the  goddess  of  the 
Egyptians,  and  was  worshipped  with  divine 
honors. 

Juno  gave  another  proof  of  her  jealousy. 
For  when  her  resentment  against  Jupiter  be- 
came so  implacable,  that  nothing  could  pacify 
her.  King  Cithseron  advised,  that  he  should 
pretend  a design  of  entering  into  a second  mar- 
riage. The  contrivance  pleased  the  god; 
wherefore  he  put  in  his  chariot  an  image  made 
of  oak,  dressed  in  very  rich  apparel,  and  pub- 
licly declared,  that  he  was  about  to  marry  Pla* 


HEATHEN  GODS.  33 

t80a,  the  daughter  of  Asophus:  The  report 
having  spread,  came  to  the  ears  of  Juno,  who 
immediately  running  thither,  rushed  upon  the 
image,  and  tore  the  clothes ; and  when  she  dis- 
covered the  fraud,  breaking  out  into  laughter, 
she  was  reconciled  to  her  husband. 

By  Juno,  Varro  understands  the  earth,  and 
by  Jupiter,  the  heaven;  by  the  marriage  of 
which,  that  is;  by  the  commixture  of  the  heav- 
enl}^  influences,  and  earthly  vapors,  all  things 
almost  are  generated. 

But  if  we  believe  the  Stoics,  Juno  is  the  air, 
which,  says  Tully,  lying  between  the  earth 
and  the  heaven,  is  consecrated  by  the  name  of 
Juno.  She  is  called  Jupiter’s  wife,  because 
the  air,  of  itself  cold,  is  warmed  by  Jupiter, 
that  is,  by  fire.  She  is  said  to  be  bound  by  Ju- 
piter with  golden  chains,  and  iron  anvils  hung 
at  her  feet : Whereby  the  ancients  signified, 
that  the  air,  though  more  nearly  united  to  hea- 
venly fire,  was  yet  sometimes  mingled  with 
earth  and  water,  the  heaviest  elements. 


CHAPTER  III. 


MINERVA. 

MINERYA,  so  called,  as  some  say,  from 
the  threats  of  her  stern  and  fierce  look,  is  the 
president  and  inventress  of  war.  Instead  of  a 
woman’s  dress,  she  is  arrayed  in  armor;  wears 
a golden  head  piece,  and  on  it  glittering  crests ; 


HEATHEN  Ct)DJI. 


34 

a bragen  coat  of  mail  covers  her  breast ; she 
brandishes  a lance  in  her  right  hand,  and  in 
her  left  holds  a shield,  whereon  is  painted  the 
grisly  head  of  Medusa,  one  of  the  Gorgons, 
rough  and  formidable  with  snakes.  The  cock 
is  sacred  to  her,  because  he  is  a fighting  bird ; 
as  is  also  the  owl,  a bird  seeing  in  the  dark, 
who  was  painted  on  her  images,  being  a repre- 
sentation of  a wise  man,  who,  having  dispelled 
the  clouds  of  ignorance  and  error,  sees  clearly 
those  things  wherein  others  are  blind. 

Upon  the  head  of  this  goddess  there  was  an 
dlive  crown,  which  is  a smybol  of  peace ; ei- 
ther because  war  is  only  made  that  peace  may 
follow ; or  because  she  first  taught  men  the  use 
of  that  tree.  For  when  Neptune  and  Minerva 
contended  about  the  name  of  a very  famous  ci- 
ty, built  by  Cecrops,  it  was  resolved,  that 
whichsoever  of  these  deities  conferred  the  more 
excellent  and  useful  gift  on  man,  should  give 
their  name  to  the  new  city.  Neptune  brought 
a horse,  and  Minerva  instantly  produced  an  ol- 
ive out  of  the  earth,  which  was  judged  by  much 
the  more  useful ; and  therefore  she  called  the 
city  Athens,  from  her  own  Greek  name. 

There  were  five  Minervas,  but  that  one,  to 
whom  the  rest  are  referred,  was  descended  of 
Jupiter.  For  he,  finding  that  his  wife  was  bar- 
ren, through  grief  struck  his  forehead,  and 
brought  forth  Minerva  the  third  month  after, 
whence  perhaps  she  is  called  Tritonia. 

Vulcan  acted  the  midwife,  who,  opening  his 
brain  with  the  blow  of  a hatchet,  was  stunned 


heathen  gods.  m 

with  amazement,  when  he  saw,  not  a naked 
and  little  girl,  but  an  armed  Virago,  leaping 
out  of  her  father’s  head. 

Some  say,  indeed,  that  Jupiter  conceived 
this  daughter,  after  he  devoured  Metis,  one  of 
bis  wives,  with  which  food  being  presently 
grown  big,  he  brought  forth  the  armed  Pallas. 
They  assert,  besides,  that  when  Minerva  was 
born,  it  rained  gold  in  the  island  Rhodes. 

The  Palladium  was  an  image  of  Pallas,  long 
preserved  in  the  Trojan  castle,  which  is  said 
to  have  fallen  from  heaven,  when  the  temple 
of  Minerva  was  building.  This  moved  the  ad- 
miration of  all,  and  when  they  consulted  the 
oracle  of  Apollo,  it  was  answered,  that  the  ci- 
ty should  be  safe,  while  the  statue  remained 
within  the  walls. 

Therefore  in  the  time  of  the  Trepan  war^ 
when  the  city  was  besieged  by  the  Grecians, 
and  there  was  no  hopes  of  gaining  it,  unless 
the  Palladium  was  first  taken  out  of  it;  that 
business  was  left  to  Ulj^sses  and  Diomedes, 
who  crept  into  the  city  through  the  common 
Sewers,  and  brought  away  the  fatal  image ; 
which  being  done,  Troy  was  taken  without 
any  difficulty. 

Some  say,  that  it  was  not  lawful  for  any  to 
remove  the  Palladium  out  of  its  place ; yea, 
not  so  much  as  to  look  upon  it.  Others  add, 
that  it  w^as  made  of  wood,  and  so  wonderful 
that  it  oould  move  its  eyes,  and  shake  the  spear. 

Others,  on  the  contrary,  report,  that  it  was 
made  of  the  bones  of  Pelops,  and  sold  to  the 


36 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


Trojans  by  the  Scythians.  Some  affirm,  that 
iEneas  recovered  it  from  Diomedes,  and  car- 
ried it  with  him  into  Italy;  and  that  it  was 
kept  at  Rome  in  the  temple  of  V esta,  as  a 
pledge  of  the  empire,  as  it  had  been  to  the 
Trojans. 

Lastly  they  write,  that  there  were  two  Pal- 
ladiums, one  of  which  was  taken  away  by  Di- 
omedes, the  other  by  ^Eneas. 

Minerva,  like  Vesta  and  Diana,  was  a per- 
petual virgin,  and  so  great  a lover,  of  chastity, 
that  she  deprived  Tiresias  of  his  eyes,  because 
lie  saw  her  bathing  in  the  fountain  of  Helicon. 
Yet  his  mother  by  humble  petitions  obtained, 
that  her  son,  for  the  loss  of  his  light  of  the  bo- 
dy, should  have  the  art  of  prophecy  and  bright- 
ness of  mind;  though  Ovid  assigns  another 
cause  of  his  blindness. 

There  is  another  illustrious  instance  of  the 
chastity  of  Minerva,  that,  when  Neptune  had 
debauched  the  beautiful  Medusa,  in  her  tem- 
ple, she  turned  her  golden  locks,  which  had 
tempted  the  god,  into  snakes,  and  caused  that 
those  that  looked  upon  her  afterwards  should 
be  turned  into  stones;  that  is,  she  became  so 
deformed  and  ugly,  that  such  as  looked  upon 
her,  were  as  insensible  of  her  charms,  as  if 
they  had  been  stones. 

This  goddess  was  educated  near  the  Lake 
Triton,  where  ceremonies  were  performed  in 
honor  of  her. 

The  virgins  of  that  country,  being  distribut- 
ed into  several  companies,  and  armed  with 


HEATHEN  GODS,  3| 

elubs  and  stones,  a signal  being  given,  assault 
ted  each  other.  She,  who  w as  first  killed,  was 
not  esteemed  a virgin ; and  therefore  her  body 
was  disgracefully  thrown  into  the  lake : But 
she,  who  received  the  most  and  more  remarkable 
wounds,  and  continued  constant  and  of  undaunted 
courage,  was  carried  home  in  manner  of  a tri- 
umph, riding  in  a chariot,  while  the  whole  assem- 
bly followed  her  with  acclamations  and  praises«> 

Minerva  was  the  inventress  of  divers  arts, 
especially  of  spinning ; and  therefore  the  distaff 
is  ascribed  to  her.  When  Arachne,  a lady  of 
Lydia,  \ery  skilful  at  spinning,  challenged  her 
in  this  art,  Minerva  tore  her  work,  and  struck 
her  forehead  with  a wheel  spoke ; so  that  the 
unhappy  maid,  out  of  despair,  hanged  herself; 
but  by  the  pity  of  the  goddess,  was  turned  into 
a spider.  She  also  taught  the  art  of  building 
castles,  and  therefore  was  believed  to  preside 
over  them. 

By  the  fable  of  Minerva,  the  poets  intended 
to  represent  wisdom ; that  is,  knowledge  and 
skill  of  things  joined  with  discreet  and  prudent 
actions ; also  the  understanding  of  the  noble 
arts;  all  accomplishments  of  the  mind;  the 
virtues,  and  especially  chastity. 

She  sprung  from  Jupiter’s  head,  because  the 
sciences  are  not  the  invention  of  human  wit, 
but  derived  from  the  unexhausted  fountain  of 
divine  wisdom,  for  the  use  of  man. 

She  was  born  armed,  because  a wise  man’s 
soul  being  fortified  with  counsel  and  virtue,  is 
invincible : is  armed  against  fortune ; in  dan- 

B 


38 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


gers  intrepid,  in  crosses  unbroken,  in  calami- 
ties impregnable. 

Her  severe  look  and  stern  coutenance  shews, 
that  a wise  and  modest  mind  gains  not  reputa- 
tion and  esteem  from  outward  beauty  and  fine- 
ry, but  from  inward  honor  and  virtue.  For 
wisdom  joined  to  modesty,  shines  no  less  cov- 
ered with  impurity,  than  encircled  with  rays 
of  glory  ; has  lustre  not  only  clothed  in  purple, 
butin  a more  despicable  dress ; assumes  majesty 
placed  on  a dunghill  equally  as  sitting  on  a 
throne ; and  charms  in  old  age  as  well  as  in 
youth. 

She  invented  and  practised  spinning ; from 
whence  other  virgins  may  learn,  if  they  would 
preserve  their  chastity,  never  to  indulge  idle- 
ness. The  spindle,  distaff  and  needle,  are  the 
arms  of  every  virtuous  woman  : Being  furnish- 
ed with  these,  she  may  despise  the  enemy  of 
her  honor,  and  drive  Cupid  far  away. 

As  soon  as  Tiresias  had  seen  Minerva  nak- 
ed, he  lost  his  sight ; but  then  his  mind  w as 
enlightened,  and  he  became  a prophet,  and  saw 
future  things  before  they  w ere  acted.  So  he, 
who  hath  once  beheld  the  beauty  of  true  w is- 
dom  nearer  and  more  clearly,  ought  willingly 
to  want  the  use  of  his  eyes,  and  not  to  be  de- 
lighted with  the  view  of  corporal,  or  love  of 
present  things ; since  beholding  eternal  ob- 
jects in  his  mind,  he  enjoys  the  contemplation 
of  celestial  things,  w hich  are  not  visible  to  the 
organs  of  sight. 


HEATHEN  GODS.  3§ 

By  the  Palladium,  that  fatal  image,  which 
gives  security  to  the  cities  wherein  it  is  pre- 
served, is  meant,  that  those  kingdoms  flourish 
and  prosper^  wherein  wisdom  counsels  It  is 
supposed  to  have  fallen  down  from  heaven, 
that  hence  we  may  learn,  what  is  confirmed 
by  the  divine  oracles,  that  every  good  and 

? perfect  gift  is  from  above,  and  descends  from 
he  Father  of  lights. 


HEATHEN  GODSp 


41 


CHAPTER  IV, 

NEPTUNE. 

THIS  is  a glorious  and  beautiful  seene^ 
where  the  deities  of  the  waters  and  marine 
gods,  riding  in  shells,  are  carried  over  the  li- 
quid plains  of  the  sea  ; being  themselves  the 
presidents,  the  princes  of  the  vast  finny  regions, 
and  the  moderators  of  the  flowing  waves. 

The  king  of  them  all  is  Neptune,  painted 
with  black  hair  and  blue  eyes,  adorned  with 
his  three-tined  sceptre,  shining  in  an  azure 
mantle,  and  conspicuous  in  his  chariot,  crowd- 
ed with  a numerous  attendance  of  creatures, 
which  resemble  a fish  in  the  upper,  and  a man 
in  the  lower  part  of  the  body. 

This  Neptune  is  the  governor  of  the  sea,  the 
father  of  the  rivers  and  fountains,  and  the  son 
of  Saturn  by  Ops.  His  mother  preserved  him 
from  the  devouring  jaws  of  his  father,  who,  as 
hath  been  remarked,  eat  up  all  the  male  child- 
ren, by  giving  a young  foal  in  his  stead. 

When  he  grew  up,  his  father’s  kingdom  be- 
ing divided  by  lot,  he  obtained  the  maritime 
parts  of  it. 

He  and  Apollo,  by  Jupiter’s  command,  were 
forced  to  serve  Laomedon  in  building  the  walls 
of  Troy  ; because  having  formed  a conspiracy, 
with  some  others,  they  resolved  to  fetter  that 
god. 

Afterwards,  being  charmed  with  the  beauty 
of  Amphitrite,  whose  disdain  he  had  long  bore^ 
n 2 


42 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


at  last,  by  the  assistance  of  a dolphin,  and  the 
power  of  flattery,  he  drew  her  into  marriage. 

The  dolphin,  in  consideration  of  this  service, 
was  placed  among  the  stars,  and  made  a con* 
stellation. 

Neptune  had  tw^o  other  wives,  Salacia  and 
Venilia,  the  former  so  called  from  the  sea,  the 
latter  from  coming,  because,  by  the  flow  ing  and 
ebbing,  the  waters  go  and  come,  approach  and 
retire  by  a reciprocal  motion. 

As  to  the  actions  of  this  god  ; the  poets  saj^, 
having  struck  the  ground  with  his  Trident,  he 
produced  a horse  in  Attica,  from  w hich  he  is 
esteemed  the  president  of  horse  races;  and,  at 
his  altar  in  the  Circus  of  Rome,  games  were 
instituted,  in  which  the  rape  of  the  Sabine  vir- 
gins was  represented. 

He  had  his  altar  under  ground,  and  they 
isacriflced  unto  him  under  the  name  of  Consiis, 
or  the  god  of  counsel,  which  frequently  ought 
to  be  given  privately  ; and  therefore  he  was 
worshipped  in  an  obscure  and  private  place. 
The  solemn  games,  called  Consualia,  w ere  cel- 
ebrated in  the  month  of  March  in  honor  of  Nep- 
tune,  whose  other  name  w as  Consus  ; at  which 
time,  the  horses  left  off  from  working,  and  the 
mules  were  adorned  with  garlands  of  flow  ers. 

Hence  also  it  happens,  that  his  chariot  is 
drawn  by  sea  horses  sometimes,  as  w ell  as  by 
dolphins.  These  sea  horses  had  only  the  two 
fore  feet,  and  the  tails  of  Ashes. 

It  was  therefore  Neptune’s  office  to  preside 
over  and  govern  both  horses  and  ships ; and 


HBATHEN  GODS.  43 

when  he  rides  upon  the  waters,  he  always 
makes  a calm. 

His  more  remarkable  children  were  Phorcns, 
or  Phorcys,  and  Proteus.  The  former  was 
born  of  the  nymph  Thesea.  He  was  vanquish- 
ed by  Atlas,  in  a sea  engagement,  and  drown- 
ed in  the  floods ; and  his  surviving  friends, 
supposing  that  he  was  made  a sea  god,  wor- 
shipped him  wdth  divine  honors. 

There  was  another  Phorcys  different  from 
him,  whose  three  daughters  had  only  one  eye 
common  to  them  all  : So  that  when  one  of  them 
desired  to  see  any  thing,  she  fixed  this  eye  in 
her  forehead,  as  a diamond  in  a ring;  after- 
ward,3  she  pulled  it  out,  and  gave  it  to  her 
sister  to  use,  and  she  to  the  third  by  turns,  as 
there  was  need. 

Proteus,  (he  other  son  of  Neptune,  was  keep- 
er of  the  sea  calves,  and  his  mother  was  the 
nymph  Phcenice.  He  could  turn  himself  into 
wdiat  shapes  he  \voiild.  Sometimes  he  dissolv- 
ed into  water,  sometimes  he  was  converted  in- 
to tire,  he  became  now  a hsh,  now  a lion,  then 
a bird,  or  whatever  else  he  pleased.  But  this 
wonderful  power  of  assuming  any  forms,  did 
not  belong  to  Proteus  alone  ; for, 

Vertumnus,  a god  of  the  Romans,  was  en- 
dued with  the  like  faculty,  as  his  name  shews, 
and  he  presided  over  the  turns  of  things,  which 
happen  according  to  expectation. 

Periclimenus,  the  brother  of  Nestor,  was  en- 
dued by  Neptune  with  the  like  gift,  and  was 
killed  by  Hercules  in  the  shape  of  a fly.  For 


44 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


when  he  fought  against  Neleus,  being  violent- 
ly pricked  bf  the  sting  of  a fly,  Pallas  discov- 
ered that  it  was  Periclimenus  in  that  form, 

Mestra,  or  Mestre,  or  Metra,  the  daughter  of 
Erisicthon,  obtained  this  favour  also  from  Nep- 
tune, as  a reward  of  her  chastity,  violated  by 
him,  that  she  should  put  on  the  figure  of  any 
thing  which  she  desired,  that  the  better  she 
might  be  able  to  succor  her  father’s  insatiable 
hunger. 

Coenis,  a Thessalian  virgin,  for  the  same 
cause,  got  the  like,  yea,  rather  a greater  privi- 
lege from  this  god ; for  being  debauched  by 
him,  instead  of  a reward,  she  obtained,  that  she 
might  change  her  sex,  and  be  wounded  by  no 
dart.  Therefore,  being  transformed  into  a 
man^  she  became  and  was  called  Cesneus,  wdio, 
afterwards  fighting  against  the  Centaurs,  was 
overwhelmed  alive  with  a great  load  of  trees 
heaped  upon  him,  and  changed  into  a bird  of 
his  own  name. 


CHAPTER  V. 

VENUS. 

VENUS  is  styled  the  goddess  of  the  graces, 
eloquence,  beauty,  neatness,  and  cheerfulness ; 
in  whose  countenance  many  charms  sit  and 
play:  In  her  forehead  sit  mirth  and  joy  ; and  a 
thousand  delights  w^antonly  sport  in  her  snowy 
bosom. 


gninuiHiirriiffmTfrnfMmiiniumiinrntifntinMniu 


46 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


She  is  clothed  with  a purple  mantle  glitter- 
ing with  diamonds ; and  refulgent  with  a rosy 
crown,  she  breathes  pleasures,  and  flows  in 
softness.  Two  cupids  attend  at  her  sides, 
three  graces  stand  round  her,  and  the  lovely 
Adonis  follows  after,  gently  holding  her  train. 
Her  chariot  is  of  ivory,  finely  carved,  and  beau- 
tifully painted  and  gilt,  fashioned  in  form  of  a 
shell,  and  drawn  by  swans,  doves  and  swallows, 
or  as  some  say,  by  sparrows,  as  she  directs, 
when  she  pleases  to  mount  it. 

The  same  Venus  is  also  the  goddess  of  love, 
the  patroness  of  strumpets,  the  vile  promoter 
of  impudence  and  lust,  and  infamous  for  many 
whoredoms,  rapes  and  incests : Who  ought  ta 
be  surrounded  by  furies,  not  graces,  and  her 
chariot  drawn  rather  by  swine,  dogs,  and  goats, 
than  the  purest  and  chasest  birds.  She  is  of- 
ten painted  like  a virgin,  rising  out  of  the  sea, 
and  riding  in  a shell : Sometimes  as  a woman 
holding  a shell,  with  her  head  adorned  with 
roses  and  other  flowers : Sometimes  she  car- 
ries a silver  looking  glass  in  her  hand,  and 
shines  with  golden  sandals  and  buckles. 

She  was  worshipped  among  the  Siconians, 
having  poppies  in  one  hand,  and  an  apple  in 
the  other.  They  consecrated  to  her  the  thighs 
of  all  sacrifices,  except  swine;  because  the 
goddess,  though  filthy  herself,  hates  that  ani- 
mal for  its  uncleanness,  or  rather  because,  for- 
merly, a boar  had  killed  Adonis,  her  gallant. 

At  Elis  there  was  an  image  of  her  treading 
®n  a tortoise  with  her  foot,  shewing  that  vir- 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


47 


gins  ought  not  to  ramble  abroad,  and  that  wives 
ought  to  keep  at  home,  and  take  care  of  the 
family.  Some  gave  her  a girdle  or  belt  of  di- 
vers colors,  called  Cestus,  in  which  they  be- 
lieved pleasures,  delights  and  gratifications  of 
every  kind  to  be  folded  up.  Others  arm  her 
with  arrows,  and  make  Python,  or  Suada,  the 
goddess  of  eloquence  her  companion. 

Historians  say,  that  there  were  four  Venuses 
born  of  dilferent  parents ; but  this,  of  whom  w e 
speak,  was  the  most  famous  of  them  all;  to 
whom  therefore  are  ascribed  both  the  beauties 
and  disgraces  of  the  rest.  She  is  said  to  have 
sprung  from  the  froth  of  the  sea,  which  the 
Genitals  of  Coelus,  or  his  son  Saturn,  being  cut 
off,  and  cast  into  the  waters,  had  made.  She 
was  no  sooner  born,  than  being  laid,  like  a 
pearl,  in  a shell,  as  it  were  in  a cradle,  she  was 
driven  by  Zephyrus  upon  the  island  of  Cy- 
prus, where  the  Horae  received  her,  cherished 
in  their  bosoms,  educated,  accomplished  and 
adorned  her ; and  when  she  was  grown  up, 
they  carried  her  into  heaven,  and  presented 
her  to  the  gods,  who,  being  taken  with  her 
beauty,  all  strove  to  marry  her;  but  at  last  she 
was  betrothed  to  Vulcan,  to  whom  afterwards 
she  was  given  in  wedlock. 

The  deeds,  which  are  to  be  expected  from  a 
most  impudent,  and  powerful  strumpet,  are  full 
of  mischiefs,  plagues  and  lewdness.  Time 
would  fail  me,  if  I should  attempt  to  repeat  the 
names  of  those,  w horn  she  has  armed  to  their 
mutual  destruction,  driven  to  wicked  intrigue^, 


48 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


and  changed  into  monstrous  beasts  ; but  I am 
deterred  by  modesty  from  proceeding  farther. 

Nyctimene,  inspired  by  impure  lust,  com- 
mitted incest  by  violating  her  father’s  bed,  and 
therefore  was  changed  into  an  owl,  an  ugly  and 
dismal  bird,  which,  conscious  of  gilt,  never  ap- 
pears in  the  day  time,  but  shuns  light,  and  con- 
ceals her  shame  with  darkness,  being  driven 
from  the  society  of  all  birds. 

Who  abhors  not  the  like  fact  of  Myrrha, 
contrived  and  committed  by  the  assistance  of 
Venus  ? But  her  sin  proved  her  ruin;  for  she 
was  turned  into  a tree,  which  always  as  it 
were  bewails  its  impurity,  and  sends  forth 
drops  like  tears.  Why  should  I mention  the 
Propsetides,  the  chief  of  prostitutes,  who  after- 
wards became  stones  ? Or  why  Pygmalion  the 
statuary  ? Who,  considering,  with  himself  the 
great  inconveniences  of  marriage,  and  resolv- 
ing to  live  a single  life,  by  exercising  his  own 
art,  so  loved  an  image  of  Venus,  which  himself 
had  made,  that  he  prayed  the  goddess  would 
soften  and  animate  the  ivory:  Which  having 
obtained,  he  begat  it  of  Paphos,  from  whom  an 
island  had  its  name. 

Py ramus  and  Thisbe,  inhabitants  of  Baby- 
lon, equal  in  beauty,  age,  manners  and  fortune, 
by  the  instigation  of  Venus,  began  to  love  from 
their  very  cradles.  The  vicinity  of  their 
houses  bred  their  mutual  affection,  acquaintance 
nourished,  and  singular  beauty,  in  both,  com- 
pleted it.  When  they  arrived  at  a marriagea- 
ble age,  and  much  desired  to  be  joined  in  mat- 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


49 


rimoiiy,  their  parents  refused,  because  of  some 
former  quarrels  between  the  two  fcimilies,  and 
fotoade  them  to  see  each  other,  or  speak  to- 
gether. What  could  Pyramus  do,  or  whither 
could  Thisbe  turn  herself  ? There  was  a parti- 
tion w^all  between  both  houses,  in  which  was  a 
small  crack,  hitherto  unknown  to  the  servants; 
but  the  lovers  discovered  it.  Their  words  and 
sighs  went  through,  though  their  kisses  could 
not,  which  they  fixed  to  the  wall,  when  they 
took  leave. 

But  their  love  was  greater,  than  that  it  could 
pass  through  by  so  narrow  a crevice ; and 
therefore  they  resolved  the  next  night,  to  seek 
that  liberty  abroad,  which  they  could  not  en- 
joy at  home,  and  fly  into  a neighbouring  wood. 

The  place  is  appointed  under  the  shade  of  a 
mulberry  tree,  which  covered  a fountain.  This- 
be, having  deceived  her  keepers,  escapes  first, 
and  flies  into  the  wood ; for  love  gave  her 
wings;  When  behold  a lioness  came  fresh 
from  the  slaughter  of  some  cattle,  to  the  foun- 
tain to  drink.  Thisbe,  being  affrighted,  ran 
into  a cave,  and,  in  her  flight,  her  veil  fell 
from  her  head,  which  the  lioness,  returning 
from  the  fountain,  tore  with  her  bloody  mouth. 

Afterwards  comes  Pyramus,  sees  the  prints 
of  the  wild  beast  in  the  gravel,  and  by  and  by 
finds  the  veil  bloody  and  torn.  Immediately 
concluding,  that  Thisbe  was  killed  and  de- 
voured by  the  wild  beast,  his  love  turned  into 
distraction,  he  hastens  to  the  appointed  tree, 
and  not  finding  Thisbe,  fell  upon  his  sword, 


5@ 


HEATIIE?^  GODS. 


and  poured  forth  his  life  with  his  blood.  Mean- 
while Thisbe  recovered  her  spirks  from  the 
fright,  and  came  to  the  tree,  where  being  stiuck 
with  the  horror  of  her  expiring  lover,  and  half 
dead  with  grief,  she  began  to  tear  her  cheeks, 
to  beat  her  breast,  to  rend  her  hair,  and  water 
his  cold  face  with  a flood  of  tears:  At  last, 
that  she  might  shut  np  the  scene,  she  plunged 
the  same  sword  in  her  own  breast,  and  falling 
upon  his  body,  breathed  out  her  soul.  The 
tree  likewise,  warmed  with  the  blood  of  the 
slain,  felt,  and  lamented  their  death;  andiVoin 
that  the  berries,  which  before  were  white,  drew 
on  a black  and  mourning  colour. 

Atalanta  and  Hippomeiies  must  now  suc- 
ceed. She  was  the  daughter  of  king  Schjenus, 
or  Caeneus,  very  remarkable  both  for  beauty 
and  the  swiftness  of  her  feet.  W hen  she  con- 
sulted the  oracle,  whether  she  should  enter  in- 
to matrimony,  she  received  the  sad  answer, 
that  marriage  would  be  fatal  to  her.  Where- 
fore she  hid  herself  in  the  woods,  and  inhabited 
the  places  far  remote  from  the  conversation  of 
men.  But  by  how  much  the  more  she  avoided 
them,  by  so  much  the  more  they  courted  her 
with  ardent  wishes  : Her  disdain  inflamed  their 
desires,  and  her  pride  raised  their  adoration. 
At  last,  when  she  saw  that  she  could  not  de- 
liver herself  from  her  importunate  lovers  by 
other  means,  she  proposed  this  condition  to 
them ; that,  whoever  should  overcome  her  at 
running,  should  have  her  as  a reward  of  his 
victory,  but  death  to  him  if  defeated.  They 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


51 


all  accept  the  conditions,  and  strive  to  outrun 
her ; but  being  overcome,  undergo  the  severe 
punishment,  the  loss  of  life  for  the  huilt  of  their 
feet.  Yet  Hippomcnes  is  not  deterred,  by 
these  fatal  examples,  from  his  purpose  of  con- 
tending, nor  gives  over  hopes  of  winning;  be- 
cause he  had  received  three  golden  apples, 
gathered  in  the  gardens  of  the  Hesperides, 
from  Venus,  who  had  taught  him  how  he 
should  use  them  for  his  own  advantage.  He 
therefore  begins  the  race  with  Atalanta,  and 
sets  out  briskly  ; but  as  soon  as  he  beheld  her 
going  before,  he  threw  down  one  apple,  with 
whose  beauty  the  virgin  being  enticed,  went 
out  of  the  way,  and  took  up  the  rolling  gold. 
Then  he  flings  another,  that  he  might  occasion 
a new  stop ; lastly  the  third,  so  that,  w hile  she 
was  busied  in  gathering  the  apples,  Hippomenes 
reached  the  goal,  and  married  her  in  reward  of 
his  victory.  But  O the  inconstancy  of  V enus ! 
And  O the  vice  of  an  ungrateful  mind ! Hippo- 
menes, being  intoxicated  with  love,  was  for- 
getful of  the  kindness  of  Venus;  who,  taking 
it  ill,  so  inflamed  them  with  impatient  desires, 
that,  in  their  journey,  they  dared  to  gratify 
them  in  a temple,  of  w hich  sacrilege  they  in- 
stantly suffered  the  punishment,  being  turned 
into  lions. 

Let  Paris  and  Helena  now  come  upon  the 
stage.  He  was  the  son  of  Priamus,  king  of 
Troy,  hy  Hecuba.  V/hen  she  was  pregnant, 
she  dreamed,  that  she  brought  forth  a burning 
torch;  and  the  soothsayers  being  consulted, 


52 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


answered,  that  it  portended  the  burning  of  Troy, 
and  that  the  fire  should  be  kindled  by  the  boy 
which  she  had  conceived.  Therefore  the 
child,  as  soon  as  it  was  born,  by  the  command 
of  Priamus,  was  exposed  upon  the  mountain  Ida, 
where  the  shepherds  nourished  and  educated 
him,  and  called  him  Paris. 

When  he  arrived  to  the  state  of  manhood, 
many  excellent  endowments  and  good  quali- 
ties shined  in  him ; and  particularly  he  gave 
such  tokens  of  singular  prudence  and  equity  in 
deciding  controversies,  that  a very  great  dif- 
ference arising  among  the  goddesses,  was  de- 
termined by  his  judgment.  The  goddess  Dis- 
cordia  gave  occasion  to  this  contention.  For 
when  all  the  gods  and  goddesses,  she  only  ex- 
cepted, were  invited  to  the  marriage  of  Peleus, 
being  angr}^  that  she  might  revenge  the  dis- 
grace, while  they  sat  at  the  table,  she  crept  in 
privately,  and  threw  a golden  apple  before 
them,  on  which  was  this  inscription,  Let  it  be 
given  to  the  fairest.  Hereupon  arose  a quarrel 
among  the  goddesses  ; for  every  one  claimed 
the  apple  to  herself,  as  being  the  handsomest. 

At  last  all  the  rest  yielded  to  the  three  su[>e- 
rior  goddesses,  Juno,  Pallas  andYenus;  wdio 
disputed  so  eagerly,  that  Jupiter  himself  could 
not  bring  them  to  agreement,  and  therefore  ap- 
pointed, that  they  should  stand  to  the  determina- 
tionofParis.  Sothey  goto  him,  feeding  his  docks 
on  a certain  mountain  ; they  open  and  plead 
their  cause  before  him,  soliciting  his  favor  w ith 
great  promises  ; Juno  professes  to  reward  him 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


53 


with  power,  Pallas  with  wisdom,  and  Venus 
with  the  most  beautiful  woman  in  the  whole 
w orld.  The  judge  having  curiously  inspected 
them  all,  being  corrupted  by  lust,  pronounced 
Venus  the  fairest,  and  assigned  to  her  the 
golden  apple. 

Venus  performed  her  promise  to  Paris  ; for 
in  a little  time,  he  was  owmed  son  of  Priamus, 
and  sailed  into  Greece,  with  a great  fleet,  un- 
der the  color  of  an  embassy,  but  really  to  fetch 
away  Helena  the  most  beautiful  virgin  in  the 
w^orld,  who  was  betrothed  to  Menelaus  king  of 
Sparta,  and  then  lived  in  his  house.  Menelaus 
being  absent,  he  carried  Helena  to  Troy. 
Hence  broke  out  that  fatal  war  between  the 
Grecians  and  Trojans,  in  which  Troy,  the 
metropolis  of  all  Asia,  was  taken  after  a ten 
years  siege,  and  burnt  in  the  year  of  the  world, 
two  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-one  ; 
and  Priamus  spoiled  of  Ids  wife,  children,  king- 
dom and  life  together.  Helena,  who  after  the 
death  of  Paris,  was  married  to  Deiphobus,  at 
last  betrayed  the  castle  to  the  Grecians,  and 
admitted  Menelaus  into  her  chamber  to  kill 
Heiphobus  ; by  which  fact  she  was  reconciled 
to  him. 

The  first  of  Venus’s  companions  was  Hyme- 
I18BUS,  the  god  of  marriage,  and  protector  of  vir- 
gins. He  was  the  son  of  Bacchus  and  Venus 
Urania,  born  in  Attica,  where  he  used  to  res- 
cue virgins  carried  away  by  thieves,  and  re- 
^stored  them  to  their  parents.  He  was  of  a fair 
complexion;  crowned  with  sweet  marjoram^ 

13  2 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


5A 

and  sometimes  with  roses : In  one  hand  ho 
holds  a torch,  in  the  other  a veil  of  a flame 
color,  representing  the  blushes  of  virgins. 
Maids  newly  married  offered  sacrifices  to  him, 
as  also  to  the  goddess  Concordia. 

Cupid,  the  god  of  love,  was  (he  next  of  Ve- 
nus’s companions,  and  had  divers  parents  as- 
cribed to  him,  because  there  were  more  Cupids. 
Plato  says,  that  he  was  born  of  Penia,  the  god- 
dess of  poverty,  and  Porus,  the  son  of  counsel 
and  plenty. 

Hesiod  reports  of  Chaos -and  Terra  ; Sappho 
of  Venus  and  Ccelus;  Alcaeus  of  Lite  and  Ze- 
phyrus;  Simonides  of  Mars  and  Venus;  and 
Alcmaeon  of  Zephyrus  and  Flora.  But  of 
whatever  family  he  is  descended,  this  is  plain, 
that  he  always  accomp  anies  Venus  either  as  a 
son  or  servant. 

The  poets  speak  of  two  Cupids,  one  of  which 
is  an  ingenious  yomh,  the  son  of  Jupiter  and 
Venus,  a celestial  deity;  the  other  a debau- 
chee, son  of  Nox  and  Erebus,  a vulgar  god, 
whose  companions  are  drunkenness,  sorrow, 
enmity,  contention,  and  other  plagues  of  that 
kind. 

Each  of  them  is  naked,  winged  and  blind, 
also  armed  a\  ith  a bow,  arrow  s and  torch : 
They  have  tw  o d^^rts  of  a diflerent  nature,  the 
one  of  gold,  which  procures,  the  other  of  lead, 
which  drives  away  love.  He  is  a boy,  because 
void  of  judgment ; blind,  because  a lover  sees 
not  the  vices  of  the  object  beloved  ; winged, 
because  nothing  is  swifter  or  more  inconstant^ 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


55 


ibroiic,  who  loves  to  daj,  wail  hale  tomorrow; 
what  he  admires  in  the  morning,  he  w ill  des- 
pise at  night;  and  he  is  armed,  because  he 
strikes  afar  off. 

The  Graces,  called  Charites,  w’ere  three 
sisters,  daughters  of  Jupiter  and  Eurynome,  or, 
as  others  wTite,  of  Bacchus  and  Venus.  The 
first  was  called  Aglaia,  from  her  cheerfulness 
and  beauty;  because  kindness  ought  to  be  per- 
formed freely:  The  second  Thalia,  from  her 
perpetual  verdure ; because  the  memory  of  a 
benefit  ought  ahvays  to  be  fresh : The  third 
Euphrosyne,  from  delight;  because  we  ought 
no  less  to  give,  than  receive  wdth  pleasure. 

Adonis  was  the  son  of  Cynaras,  king  of  Cy- 
prus and  Myrrha.  Venus  chose  him  as  an  at- 
tendant for  his  siogidar  beauty.  At  hunting, 
being  wounded  under  the  groin  by  the  teeth  of 
a hoar,  he  died;  v;hom  Venus  bewailed  with 
j^iany  tears,  and  changed  his  blood  spilt  upon 
the  ground  into  the  fiower  Anemone.  While 
she  ran  to  bring  assistance  to  him  dying,  she 
liurt  her  foot,  being  i)ricked  with  a tlmrn,  and 
with  her  blood  died  the  rose,  which  being  be- 
fore w hite,  now  became  red. 

Some  add  another  pleasant  conceit ; that 
Venus  and  Proserpina  contended  before  Jupi- 
ter, which  should  have  Adriois.  They  being 
sent  to  the  muse  Calliope,  by  whose  sentence 
the  controversy  WaS  to  be  decided,  she  settled 
the  matter  thus:  That  Adonis  should  serve 
Venus  six  months,  and  Proserpina  as  many. 
The  meaning  of  the  fable  is ; Venus  is  the 


56 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


earth,  and  Adonis  the  sun.  She  reigns  with 
him  six  months,  attired  with  flowers,  and  en- 
riched with  fruits:  The  other  six  months  the 
sun  retires  from  us,  as  if  he  would  live  with 
Proserpina. 

By  Venus  we  understand  amorousness.  She 
is  the  goddess  of  beauty  ; because  nothing  more 
foments  impure  desires,  tyrannizes  over  the  af- 
fections, subdues  virtue,  and  enslaves  the  w hole 
man. 

She  was  wwshipped  armed;  for  beauty  con- 
quers neither  less,  nor  more  slowly,  than  the 
Are  or  sword.  She  rides  in  a chariot,  and 
leads  a triumph  over  her  conquered  enemies 
after  the  war  is  ended,  which  she  wages 
by  the  pow  er,  not  of  arms,  but  love ; for  she 
fights  with  allurements,  not  ambushes ; with 
delights,  not  bullets  ; Avith  charms,  not  wounds ; 
she  throws  no  other  firebrands  than  Avhat  love 
kindles ; and  the  arrows  which  she  darts  to 
the  heart,  are  shot  only  from  her  eyes ; and 
therefore  no  AA^onder,  if  the  enemy  turn  not  to 
flighty  but  into  her  arms. 

She  Avears  a croA\n,  because  beauty  is  al- 
Avays  victorious  ; it  conquers  even  in  peace  ; 
thunders  in  silence;  lightens  Avith  its  aspect ; 
seizes  the  breast ; storms  the  mind ; speaks 
without  a voice ; ties  Avithout  chains ; en- 
chants Avitliout  Avithcraft ; and  once  to  see,  is 
to  conquer ; but  to  be  seen,  is  to  triumph. 

She  holds  a mirror,  that  the  brittleness  of 
the  glass  may  remind  her  of  the  frailty  of  her 
beauty.  Her  head  also  is  adorned  with  flow- 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


57 


Cl’S,  from  which  she  may  understand,  tliat 
nothing  is  more  fading  than  a fine  complexion, 
which,  like  a flower,  blasts  with  the  least 
breath,  breaks  by  the  lightest  accident,  and 
dies  in  a moment. 

She  is  born  from  the  sea ; because  a lover  is 
afflicted  with  as  many  storms  of  passions,  as 
there  are  winds  that  disturb  the  ocean. 

She  is  infamous  for  her  adulteries,  rapes  and 
incests.  Behold,  whither  the  beauty  of  the 
body  carries  those  whom  it  captivates ! See 
the  precipices,  into  which  that  ignus  fatuus  in 
her  eyes  betrays  her  admirers  ! 

Thus  from  the  purest  and  coolest  face,  an 
impure  flame  is  created : Thus  the  order  of 
things  being  perverted,  many  are  blinded  by 
others’  eyes;  find  tumults  raised  in  their 
breasts,  from  the  calm  serenity  of  another’s 
countenance ; grow  pale  at  their  redness  ; and 
become  more  impudent,  the  more  they  admire 
modesty.  Some  are  of  opinion,  that  Astaroth, 
the  goddess  of  the  Sidonians,  mentioned  in  the 
Holy  Scriptures,  was  the  same  with  Venus. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


59 


CHAPTER  VI. 

MARS. 

MARS  is  the  god  of  war,  fierce  in  aspect^ 
stern  in  countenance,  and  terrible  in  dress : 
He  sits  in  a chariot  drawn  by  two  horses,  with 
a distracted  woman  driving  it.  He  is  covered 
with  armor,  and  brandishes  a spear  in  his  right 
hand,  as  though  he  seemed  to  breathe  fire  and 
death,  and  to  threaten  all  with  ruin  and  destruc- 
tion. Sometimes  he  is  represented  sitting  on 
horseback,  formidable  with  his  whip  and  spear. 

His  servants  are  Fear  and  Terror  ; Discord 
also  goes  before  in  a tattered  garment,  and 
Clamor  and  Anger  follow  him. 

She,  who  drives  his  chariot,  is  Bel  Iona,  the 
goddess  of  war,  the  companion,  or,  as  some  say, 
the  sister,  or  wife,  of  Mars.  Her  priests,  the 
Belionarli,  sacrificed  in  their  own  blood : In 
each  hand  holding  out  naked  swords,  where- 
with having  cut  their  shoulders,  they  run  up 
and  down,  as  men  mad  and  possessed ; which 
rites  being  finished,  they  were  thought  to  fore- 
td  futurities. 

Before  the  temple  of  this  goddess  there  was 
a pillnr,  called  Beiiica,  over  which  the  herald 
threw  a spear,  when  he  proclaimed  war. 

Mars  is  said  to  be  the  son  of  Jupiter  and 
Jnno,  but  Ovid  says,  of  Juno  only  : For  ad- 
miring how  her  husband  had  himself  conceived 
and  begot  Minerva,  affecting  the  like  also,  she 
went  to  Oceanus,  to  a^k  his  advice,  by  what 


60 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


means  she  might  have  a child  without  her  hus- 
band. Being  wearied  with  her  journey,  by 
chance,  she  sat  down  at  the  door  of  the  god- 
dess Flora ; who  understanding  the  design, 
bade  her  be  of  good  heart,  telling  her,  that  she 
had  a flower  in  her  garden,  which  if  she  should 
even  touch  with  lier  fingers,  she  should  con- 
ceive instantly  with  the  very  smell  of  it.  Ac- 
cordingly she  was  brought  into  the  garden,  and 
the  flower  shewn  her ; w hich  having  touched, 
she  conceived  Mars,  who  afterwards  married 
Nerione,  that  is,  Valor. 

The  poets  mention  only  one  action  of  this 
god,  and  that  rather  to  he  concealed  in  dark- 
ness, had  it  not  been  discovered  by  the  light 
of  the  sun,  namely  his  adultery  with  Venus. 
Vulcan,  knowing  the  whoredom  of  his  wife, 
made  a net  of  iron,  so  fine  and  small,  that  it 
escaped  the  sight  of  more  than  human  eyes, 
and  spread  it  over  the  bed  of  Venus.  Soon 
after  the  lovers  returned  to  their  sport,  and 
were  caught  in  the  snare.  Vulcan  calls  all 
the  gods  to  the  shew,  who  extremely  jeered 
the  prisoners.  Being  thus  long  exposed  to  the 
jests  and  hisses  of  all,  at  length,  at  the  request 
of  Neptune,  Vulcan,  having  unloosed  their 
chains,  let  them  go. 

But  Alectyron,  a young  man  very  dear  to 
Mars,  suffered  the  punishment  which  his  crime 
deserved ; because,  being  appointed  watch  at 
the  door,  he  fell  asleep,  and  so  gave  an  oppor- 
tunity to  Sol  of  entering  the  chamber ; there- 
fore he  was  changed  ijiito  a cock,  which,  being 


HEATHEN  GODS.  6l 

mindful  of  liis  old  fault,  foretels  the  approach 
of  the  sun  by  his  crowing. 

Indeed  Venus  married  to  Vulcan,  that  is,  a 
very  handsome  woman  to  a very  ugly  man, 
gives  too  strong  a temptation  to  adultery.  But 
that,  or  any  other  wickedness,  however  it  may 
be  concealed  by  more  than  Cimmerian  dark^ 
ness,  and  committed  in  the  most  private  re- 
tirements, cannot  escape  the  Son  of  Right- 
eousness, or  go  unpunished. 

To  Mars  was  sacrificed  the  wolf  for  his  fierce- 
ness ; the  horse,  because  he  excels  in  war ; the 
woodpecker  and  vulture,  for  their  ravenous- 
ness ; the  cock,  for  his  vigilance ; and  grass, 
because  it  springs  up  more  plentifully  in  cities 
robbed  of  their  inhabitants  by  war,  and  in 
those  places,  that  are  moistened  with  human 
blood. 

Amongst  the  most  ancient  rites  of  this  god, 
this  is  worthy  to  be  mentioned,  namely,  whoev- 
er had  undertaken  the  conduct  of  any  war, 
having  entered  the  chapel  of  Mars,  he  first 
shaked  the  Ancilia,  (which  were  a kind  of  holy 
shields)  and  afterwards  the  spear  of  his  image, 
saying,  Mars,  watch.  His  priests  were  called 
Salii. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


63 


CHAPTER  VII. 

VULCAN. 

YULC  AN  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Juno, 
(some  say  of  Juno  only)  and  himself  a god,  and 
the  blacksmith  of  the  other  deities.  He  had 
his  shop  in  the  island  of  Lemnos,  where  he  ex- 
ercised his  trade,  and  made  Jupiter’s  thunder, 
and  the  arms  of  the  rest  of  the  gods.  Being 
contemptible  for  his  deformity,  he  was  cast 
down  fiom  heaven  to  earth,  and,  having  broke 
his  leg  With  the  fall,  from  that  time  has  been 
lame  ; and  indeed,  be  had  undoubtedly  broken 
his  neck  also,  but  that  the  Lemnians,  out  of 
humanity,  caught  him  falling.  That  he  might 
repay  his  great  kindness,  he  fixed  his  seat  among 
them,  and  setting  up  the  craft  of  a smith, 
taught  the  natives  the  use  of  fire  and  iron. 

This  smoky  god  loved,  and  mightily  desired 
to  marry,  Minerva;  and  Jupiter  consented, 
yielding  up  the  virgin  to  the  will  of  this  nasty 
wretch ; but  he  suffered  a repulse,  and  in  the 
wicked  and  fruitless  struggle,  his  nature  falling 
upon  the  earth,  produced  the  monster  Ericht- 
honius,  who  was  a boy  formidable  with  drag- 
on’s feet ; which  deformity  that  he  might  hide, 
he  is  said  to  have  invented  the  use  of  chariots. 

Though  Minerva  favored  not  Vulcan’s  ad- 
dress, yet  he  got  V enus,  the  most  beautiful  of 
all  the  goddesses  to  wife,  whom  afterwards, 
being  caught  in  adultery  with  Mars,  he  linked 
with  chains,  and  exposed  them  to  be  laughed 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


at  by  all  the  gods.  He  had  a temple  at  Rome, 
where  feasts  were  celebrated  in  honor  of  him, 
called  Vulcania,  at  which  animals  were  thrown 
into  the  fire. 

A temple  was  also  bniit  and  dedicated  to 
him  upon  the  mountain  jEtna,  guarded  by 
dogs,  which  were  endued  with  so  exquisite  a 
sense  of  smelling,  that  they  went  out  to  meet 
the  chaste  and  religious  coming  to  it,  fawned 
upon  them,  and  joined  themselves  companions 
to  them,  as  being  acquaintances  and  friends  of 
their  master  Vulcan;  but  they  drove  away 
the  wicked  and  bad  with  their  terrible  bark- 
ing, and  tore  them  w ith  their  teeth. 

It  is  feigned,  that  the  first  woman  was  fash- 
ioned by  the  hammer  of  V ulcan,  and  honored 
with  the  presents  of  all  the  gods,  Avhence  she 
was  called  Pandora ; that  Pallas  gave  her  wis- 
dom ; Apollo  music ; Mercury  the  art  of  elo- 
quence; Venus  beauty;  and  the  other  gods 
bestowed  other  accomplishments. 

They  added,  that  when  Prometheus  stole 
fire  from  heaven,  to  animate  the  man  which  he 
had  made,  Jupiter,  being  incensed  against  man- 
kind, sent  Pandora  to  him  with  a sealed  box, 
but  Prometheus  would  not  receive  it.  After- 
wards she  carried  it  to  the  Avife  of  Epimetheus, 
brother  of  Prometheus,  Avho,  out  of  curiosity 
natural  to  the  sex,  opened  it,  and  let  out  diseases 
and  evils  of  all  sorts,  with  which  it  was  filled, 
amongst  mankind,  only  Hope  remaing  in  the 
bottom  of  the  box. 

That  by  V ulcan  is  understood  fire,  the  name 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


65 


itself  discovers  ; for  so  he  is  called  from  the 
force  and  violence  of  fire  : And  therefore  he  is 
painted  with  a blue  hat,  a symbol  of  the  ce- 
lestial or  elementary  fire,  which  is  by  nature 
clear  and  unmixed;  whereas  the  terrestrial, 
because  weaker,  and  wanting  fuel,  is  justly 
feigned  to  be  lame.  They  say  that  Vulcan 
was  cast  down  from  heaven,  because  the  light- 
ning comes  from  the  air ; and  that  the  Lemni- 
ans  caught  him,  because  it  frequently  fails  into 
that  island. 

The  Cyclops  were  the  children  of  Neptune 
and  Amphitrite,  who  had  only  one  eye,  in  the 
middle  of  their  forehead,  of  a round  figure,  in 
the  form  of  a circle.  There  were  many  of 
them,  who  all  exercised  the  art  of  smithery 
under  V ulcan,  the  chief  of  whom  were  Bron- 
tes, Steropes,  and  Pyracmon. 

Cacus,  son  of  Vulcan,  was  the  vilest  of 
rogues,  taking  his  name  from  his  wickedness. 
He  tormented  all  Latium,  with  his  fires  and 
robberies,  passing  his  life  after  the  manner  of 
wild  beasts,  and  inhabiting  a dismal  cave. 

When  one  night  he  had  dragged  thither 
Hercules’s  oxen  by  the  tail,  that  the  tracts  of 
their  feet  might  not  discover  this  repository  of 
his  thefts;  Hercules  by  chance  passing  by, 
and  hearing  the  lowing  of  the  oxen  in  the 
cave,  broke  open  the  doors,  seized  and  killed 
the  monster. 

Ccsculus  w^as  the  son  of  Vulcan,  and  also 
lived  by  plunder  and  robbery.  They  say,  that 
while  his  mother  sat  by  the  fire^  a spark  flew 

F 2 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


eg 

into  her  lap,  and  that  from  it  growing  big,  at 
the  usual  time,  she  brought  forth  a son,  who 
afterwards  was  the  founder  of  the  city  Praeneste. 
Others  report,  that  Caeculus,  immediately  after 
his  birth,  was  found  by  some  shepherds,  in  the 
midst  of  flames,  altogether  unhurt;  whence  he 
was  believed  to  have  been  the  son  of  Vulcan. 

The  shepherd  Polyphemus  was  a monster 
not  unlike  to  these,  and  born  of  Neptune.  He 
had  only  one  eye  in  his  forehead,  and  got  his 
living  by  murders  and  robberies. 

Ulysses,  being  informed,  that  he  had  drawn 
four  of  his  companions  into  his  den  in  Sicilj', 
and  devoured  them,  attacked  him,  when  he 
was  drunk  with  wine,  and  having  thrust  a fire 
brand  into  his  eye,  quite  deprived  him  of  sight. 


CHAPTER  viir. 


VESTA, 

VESTx\,  the  eldest  of  all  the  goddesses, 
the  wife  of  Coelum  and  mother  of  Saturn,  is 
represented  as  a matron  sitting  and  bohiing  a 
drum.  She  is  not  reckoned  among  the  celes- 
tials, because  she  is  the  earth  itself,  and  has 
her  name  from  clothing,  because  the  earth  is 
clothed  with  plants  and  fruits.  She  sits,  be- 
cause the  earth,  being  immoveable,  slays  in 
the  lowest  part  of  the  world  ; and  she  carries 
a dram,  "jecause  the  earth  contains  the  boister- 
ous winds  in  its  bosom. 


68 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


Her  head  is  also  surrounded  with  divers 
flowers  and  plants  voluntarily  waving  them- 
selves into  a crown,  while  animals  of  every 
kind  play  about  and  fawn  upon  her.  Because 
the  earth  is  round,  Vesta’s  temple  at  Rome 
was  round ; and  they  say,  that  her  image  was 
orbicular  in  some  places. 

It  is  no  wonder,  that  the  first  oblations  were 
offered  to  her,  since  all  the  sacrifices  spring 
from  the  earth  ; and  the  Greeks  both  began 
and  concluded  all  sacrifices  with  this  goddess. 

There  was  another  Vesta,  the  daughter  of 
Saturn  by  Rhea,  by  whom  they  understood 
fire;  snd  she  was  esteemed  the  president  and 
guardian  of  the  houses  and  altars,  and  one  of 
the  houshold  deities,  because  she  invented  the 
art  of  building  houses  : And  therefore  an  image 
of  Vesta,  to  which  they  used  to  sacrifice  daily, 
stood  at  the  tloors  of  private  houses. 

She  admired  virginity  so  much,  that,  when 
her  brother  Jupiter  had  given  her  the  liberty, 
of  asking  whatever  she  would,  she  desired  that 
she  might  always  continue  a virgin,  and  have 
the  first  oblations  of  all  the  sacrifices  ; which 
she  not  only  obtained,  but  also  this  further 
honor  among  the  Romans,  that  perpetual  fire 
was  kept  in  her  temple  amongst  the  sacred 
pledges  of  her  empire  ; not  upon  the  altars,  or 
in  the  chimneys,  but  in  earthern  vessels  hang- 
ing in  the  air,  which  the  vestal  virgins  tended 
with  so  much  care,  that  if  by  chance  this  fire 
was  extinguished,  a vacation  was  proclaimed, 
and  all  public  and  priyat?  business  was  inter- 


heathen  gods. 


69 


milted^  until  they  had  expiated  the  unhappy 
prodigy  with  incredible  pains.  But  if  it  hap- 
pened by  the  carelessness  of  the  virgins,  they 
were  chastised  with  the  severest  punishments. 
However,  though  this  sacred  fire  was  not  ex- 
tinguished, yet  it  was  renewed  yearly  upon  the 
Kalends  of  March,  only  with  a flame  from  the 
rays  of  the  sun. 

By  the  fable  of  Vesta  is  understood  the  vi- 
tal heat ; that  pure,  unmixed  and  benign  fire, 
so  necessary  for  us,  without  w hich  human  life 
cannot  subsist,  and  by  whose  heat  being  diffu- 
sed through  all  parts  of  the  body,  we  are  quick- 
ened, cherished,  refreshed  and  nourished.  This 
is  the  sacred,  heavenly,  and  divine  flame, 
which  we  daily  repair  by  food,  and  which' 
moves  and  actuates  the  whole  body,  and  can- 
not be  extinguished  but  with  life  itself ; and 
then  there  is  a lasting  vacation,  and  end  pul 
to  ail  our  business,  in  this  wwld. 


r 

i;, 

li 
1 1 
li 


HEATHBN  GODS. 


71 


CHAPTER  IX. 

APOLLO. 

APOLLO  is  described  as  a beardless  youths 
•ivith  long  hair,  crowned  with  laurel,  and  shin- 
ing in  an  embroidered  vestment ; holding  a 
bow  and  arrows  in  the  right  hand,  and  a har[) 
in  the  left.  Sometimes  he  is  seen  with  a 
Shield  in  the  one  hand,  and  the  Graces  in  the 
other.  And  because  his  power  is  threefold  f 
in  heaven,  where  he  is  called  Sol ; in  earth, 
where  he  is  named  Liber  Pater;  and  in  hell, 
where  he  is  stiled  Apollo ; he  is  generally 
painted  with  a harp,  shield  and  arrows  *•  The 
harp  shewing  his  heavenly  power  for  the  har- 
mony of  celestial  things  ; the  shield  the  terres- 
trial, for  health  and  safety,  which  he  brings  to 
earthly  creatures ; the  arrows  his  infernal,  for 
whomsoever  he  strikes  with  them,  he  sends 
them  down  thither. 

There  were  four  Apollos,  the  most  ancient 
of  whom  was  born  of  Vulcan  : another  a Cre- 
tan, the  otfspring  of  the  Corybantes ; and 
another  of  Arcadia:  But  these  three  are  not 
mentioned,  because  all  their  actions  are  ascri- 
bed to  one  Apollo,  son  of  Jupiter  and  Latona. 
Bis  mother,  who  was  daughter  of  Caeus  the 
Titan,  conceived  twins  by  Jupiter  : At  which 
Juno  being  incensed,  sent  the  serpent  Pithon 
against  her,  who  that  she  might  escape  it,  fled 
into  the  island  Delos,  where  she  brought  forth 
Apollo  and  Diana  at  the  same  birth. 


72 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


By  the  invention  of  physic,  music,  poetry 
and  rhetoric,  he  deservedly  presided  over  the 
Muses,  and  advanced  to  other  high  honors* 
He  also  taught  the  arts  of  foretelling  and  arch- 
c**y  5 by  which  favors  he  so  much  obliged 
mankind,  that  he  was  enrolled  in  the  number 
of  the  gods. 

These  achievements  of  his,  which  follow, 
are  remarkable  above  the  rest.  He  destroyed 
all  the  Cyclops,  the  forgers  of  Jupiter’s  thun- 
derbolts, with  his  arrows,  to  revenge  the  death 
of  his  son  jEsculapius,  whom  Jupiter  had  kil- 
led with  his  thunder ; and  that,  because,  by 
the  power  of  physic,  he  restored  the  dead  to 
life  again. 

For  this  cause,  Apollo  was  cast  down  from 
heaven,  deprived  of  his  divinity,  exposed  to 
the  calamities  of  this  w orld,  doomed  to  ban- 
ishment upon  the  earth,  and  compelled  by 
want  to  feed  Admetus’s  flocks.  In  this  dis- 
tress, being  weary  of  idleness,  he  is  said  first 
to  have  invented  and  formed  a harp,  with  a 
design  of  passing  the  time  more  agreeably. 

By  chance  he  killed  Hyacinthus,  a boy  of 
remarkable  beauty  and  ingenuity,  and  whom 
he  very  much  admired.  For,  whilst  they 
played  together  at  quoits,  Zephyrus,  who  was 
also  taken  with  the  love  of  Hyacinthus,  being 
enraged  that  Apollo  was  preferred  to  him,  and 
catching  hold  of  this  opportunity  of  revenging 
his  grief,  drove  the  quoit,  which  the  god  had 
thrown,  by  a puff  of  wind,  against  the  head  of 
the  boy,  who  instantly  dropt  down  dead.  But 


HEATHEN  GODS.  73 

Apollo  caused  the  flowers  called  violets,  to  be 
produced  from  his  blood  spilt  upon  the  earth. 

Besides,  he  wonderfully  esteemed  Cyparis* 
sus,  another  very  pretty  youth ; who,  having 
killed  a deer,  which  he  had  trained  up,  and  ar- 
dently loved,  would  admit  no  consolation : 
But  Apollo,  moved  with  pity,  changed  him  in- 
to a cypress  tree,  w^hose  branches  they  ever 
afterwards  used  at  funerals,  to  perpetuate  his 
mourning,  as  he  had  requested  of  the  gods. 

He  pursued  Daphne,  a virgin  famous  for  her 
beauty  and  modesty,  that  he  might  fulfil  his 
impure  lust ; but  she,  having  prayed  to  the 
gods,  was  turned  into  a laurel,  the  chastest  of 
trees;  which  is  never  corrupted  by  the  vio- 
lence of  heat  or  cold,  but  remains  always  flour- 
ishing, always  pure. 

He  also  long  courted,  but  could  not  gain  the 
nymph  Bolina;  for  she  chose  rather  to  be 
drowned  in  the  waters  of  a river,  into  which 
she  threw  herself,  than  to  yield  to  his  lascivi- 
ous flames.  Nor  did  her  invincible  modesty 
want  its  reward  ; for  exposing  herself  to  death, 
for  the  defence  of  her  virginity,  she  conquered 
both  death  and  Apollo,  and  thence  became  im- 
mortal. 

Leucothoe,  daughter  of  Orchamus,  king  of 
Babylon,  was  not  equally  tenacious  of  her 
chastity  ; for  she  at  last  consented  to  Apollo’s 
suit ; which  disgrace  to  the  family,  her  father 
not  bearing,  buried  her  alive.  But  when  Apol- 
lo, who  indeed  could  not  restore  her  to  life  a- 
gain,  had  sprinkled  her  body  and  the  place 
e 


74 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


with  heavenly  nectar,  there  sprang  up  a tree 
that  drops  frankincense. 

Apollo,  who  raised  the  walls  of  the  city  Troy 
by  the  music  of  his  harp  alone,  was  challenged 
by  Marsyas,  a proud  musician  ; but  the  god 
flayed  him  alive,  because  he  presumed  to  con- 
tend with  him  in  his  own  art,  and  afterwards 
converted  him  into  the  river  of  Phrygia  of  the 
same  name. 

When  the  gods  Apollo  and  Pan  contended 
in  singing,  Pdydas,  king  of  Phrygia,  being  ap- 
pointed umpire  of  the  dispute,  foolishly  adjudg- 
ed the  pahn  to  the  latter,  for  which  the  former 
stretched  his  ears  to  the  length  and  shape  of 
an  ass’s  ears.  The  king  endeavored  to  conceal 
this  disgrace  from  all  but  his  barber,  w hom  he 
earnestly  begged,  and  by  great  promises  pre- 
vailed, that  he  would  not  discover  to  any  w hat 
he  had  seen*  But  he,  not  being  able  to  keep  a 
secret  so  v/onderfut,  dug  up  the  ground,  and 
w'bispered,  Midas  has  asses’  ears,  and  then  fil- 
ling up  the  ditch  with  earth,  went  away.  But 
strange  ! The  reeds,  growing  oat  of  the  hole, 
being  moved  with  the  gentlest  gale,  uttered  the 
same  w ords  which  tiie  barber  had  tluTe  buried. 

As  to  the  sense  of  the  fable,  all  agree,  that 
Apollo  is  nothiog  else  but  the  Sun,  to  wdiom 
these  four  ihiogs,  which  are  cofimioriiy  aitrlbu- 
ted  to  the  god,  reuiarkably  belong.  The  first 
was  the  skill  of  prophesying,  and  knowledge  of 
secret  ih-logs;  which  is  tlie-property  of  the 
Son,  who,  dispeillng  the  darkness  by  hb  light, 
disepyers-  hidden  and  concealed  truth.  Anotli* 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


75 


€F  was  the  art  of  healing,  which  also  shadows 
forth  the  solar  ioilaeiice,  than  which  nothing  i» 
more  salotaiy,  and  more  necessary  to  the  pres- 
ervatioo  of  tidngs.  The  third,  namely,  ex- 
pertness  of  shooting,  agrees  also  to  the  Sun, 
who  darts  his  rays  as  so  many  arrows  from  his 
body  to  the  earth.  The  fourth  was  music, 
which  may  be  applied  to  the  Sun  ; because  be- 
ing placed  in  the  middle  among  the  planets, 
he,  together  with  them,  by  a manifold  motion, 
makes,  as  it  were,  a kind  of  consort ; and,  as 
the  pianets  are  seven  in  number,  the  poets  as- 
sert, that  Apollo’s  harp  consisted  of  so  many 
strings. 

From  the  things  offered  in  sacrifice  to  Apol- 
lo, it  likewise  appears,  that  he  was  the  Sun, 
such  as  the  olive,  which  cannot  be  nourished 
in  places  distant  from  the  Sun.  The  laurel 
which  is  an  evergreen,  and  is  therefore  an  em- 
blem of  the  vegetative  influence  of  the  Sun, 
and  other  things  of  like  natures  and  qualities. 

They  who  pretend  to  turn  this  fable  to  true 
history,  tell  us,  that  Apollo  was  a king  of  the 
Arcadians,  who  was  deposed  for  ruling  with 
too  great  severity,  that  he  fled  to  Thessaly, 
where  king  Admetus  gave  him  the  command 
of  the  country  lying  about  the  river  Amphry- 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


77 

CHAPTER  X. 

DIANA. 

DIANA  is  painted  in  a hunting  habit,  with 
a bow  in  her  hand,  a quiver  full  of  arrows 
hanging  down  from  her  shoulders ; and  her 
breast  covered  with  the  skin  of  a deer : She 
was  the  goddess  of  hunting  and  chastity. 

She  has  three  different  names,  and  as  many 
offices : In  the  heavens  she  is  called  Luna,  on 
the  earth  Diana,  and  in  hell  Hecate.  In  the 
heavens  she  enlightens  all  things  by  her  rays. 

On  the  earth  she  subdues  ail  the  wild  beasts 
by  her  bow  and  darts ; and  in  hell  keeps  in 
subjection  the  ghosts  and  spirits,  by  her  power 
and  authority.  The  poets  feign,  that  she  has 
three  heads,  of  a horse  on  the  right  side,  of  a 
dog  on  the  left,  and  a woman  in  the  middle. 

She  is  called  Luna  from  shining ; because 
in  the  night  time,  she  sends  forth  a glorious 
light  Her  chariot  is  drawn  by  a black  and 
white  horse ; or  by  two  oxen,  because  of  her 
horns  ; sometimes  adding  a mule,  for  her  bar- 
renness, since  she  shines  not  with  her  own, 
but  the  borrowed  light  of  the  sun. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  some,  that  Luna  was  of 
both  sexes,  and  that  the  Egyptians,  especially, 
worshipped  the  god  Lunas,,  and  also  the  god- 
dess Luna  ; but  wdth  this  difference,  that  those 
w ho  worshipped  Luna,  were  thought  subject  to 
the  women,  and  those,  who  honored  Lunas, 
were  superior  to  them.  It  is  to  be  observed 


HEATHEN  GODS. 

also,  lliat  the  men  sacrificed  to  Yenus,  under 
the  name  of  Luna,  in  women’s  dress,  and  the 
women  in  men’s  clothes. 

The  shepherd  Endymion,  is  supposed  to 
have  been  Luna’s  gallant,  whom  she  so  much 
admired,  that  for  the  sake  of  kissing  him,  she 
came  down  from  heaven,  to  the  mountain  Lat- 
mus,  in  Caria,  where  he  lay  in  a certain  cave, 
condemned  to  perpetual  sleep,  because  he  at- 
tempted to  violate  the  modesty  of  Juno. 

Endymion  was  in  reality  a famous  astrono- 
mer, who  first  described  the  course  of  the 
moon,  and  he  was  said  to  sleep,  because  he 
contemplated  nothing  but  the  planetary  mo- 
tions. 

She  was  called  Hecate,  either  because  the 
moon  darts  her  rays  or  arrow  s far  off ; or,  be- 
cause they  sacrificed  a hundred  victims  to  her; 
or,  because,  by  her  edict,  those,  who  were  not 
buried,  wandered  a hundred  years  before  they 
were  carried  over  to  hell. 

She  was  the  daughter  of  Ceres  and  Jupiter, 
Sind  being  cast  out  by  her  mother,  and  exposed 
In  the  streets,  was  taken  up  by  some  shepherds 
and  nourished  by  them : For  this  reason  she 
Was  worshipped  in  the  streets,  and  her  statue 
TUsualiy  set  before  the  doors  of  the  houses. 

They  say  that  she  was  of  a prodigious  size, 
and  wonderfully  tall,  with  her  head  frightful 
with  snakes  instead  of  hairs,  and  feet  resemb- 
ling serpents.  She  wras  encompassed  with 
dogs ; because  that  animal  was  sacred  to  her. 

They  say,  that  she  presided  over  enchant^ 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


79 


meats,  and  that  being  called  seven  times,  she 
used  to  come  to  the  sacrifices  ; which  being 
finished,  several  apparitions  were  seen,  called 
from  her  Hecatsea. 

This  goddess  was  called  Lucina  and  Opis  ; 
because  she  attended  and  gave  assistance  to 
infants  coming  into  the  light  of  life  ; which  of- 
fice  she  is  said  first  to  have  performed  to  her 
brother  Apollo,  v;hen  herself  being  just  bora, 
was  present,  while  her  mother  Latona  brought 
him  forth,  and  did  the  office  of  a midwife  ; but 
she  was  so  affrighted  with  her  mother’s  pains, 
that  she  resolved  perpetually  to  preserve  her 
virginity,  seeing  the  pains  to  be  endured  in 
child  bearing  are  so  many. 

The  women,  after  child  birth,  used  to  sacri- 
fice to  Juno,  and  to  offer  their  own  and  the  in- 
fant’s clothes  to  Diana. 

As  this  goddess  w-as  a huntress,  and  the 
princess  of  hunters,  the  woods,  groves  and  for- 
ests were  consecrated  to  her : And,  because  it 
was  believed,  that  she  left  off  hunting  on  the 
Ides  of  August,  therefore  it  was  not  lawful  to 
hunt  after  that  time;  but  they  crowned  the 
dogs  with  garlands,  lighted  torches  of  stub- 
ble, and  near  them  hung  up  their  hunting  in- 
struments. 

She  was  of  so  inviolable  a chastity,  that  she 
resisted  the  solicitations  of  Mars  and  Apollo, 
though  powerful  and  famous  deities. 

Actaeon,  the  famous  hunter,  and  son  of  Aris- 
tnsus,  felt  the  vengeance  of  her  offended  mod- 
esty ; for  when  he  only  looked  at  her,  whilst 


I 


30  KEATIIKN  GODS. 

she  was  naked  in  a fountain,  she  deferred  not 
the  punishment  of  his  impurity  one  moment ; 
for  being  sprinkled  with  water  by  her,  he  was 
changed  into  a stag,  and  afterwards  torn  in 
pieces  by  his  own  dogs. 

She  also  punished  the  arrogance  of  Chione, 
the  daughter  of  Daedalion  by  Apollo  and  Mer- 
cury. For  when  she  had  brought  forth  twins, 
namely,  Philamon,  a skilful  musician,  son  of 
Apollo,  and  Autolychus,  the  offspring  of  Mer- 
cury, famous  in  the  art  of  stealing,  she  brag- 
ged, that  she  had  gratified  two  gods,  and  dared 
to  prefer  herself  to  Diana,  slighting  the  beauty  , 
of  the  goddess  ; but  she,  enraged  with  anger, 
bent  her  bow,  and  pierced  her  tongue  with  an 
arraw. 

Meleager  suffered  the  punishment  due  to  his 
father  Oeneus.  For  when  he,  in  the  offering 
of  the  first  fruits,  wilfully  forgot  Diana,  the 
goddess,  being  angry,  sent  a boar  to  ravage  the 
lands  of  his  kingdom  of  Caledonia.  Meleager, 
attended  with  many  chosen  youths,  immedi- 
ately went  out  to  kill,  or  drive  him  out.  The 
virgin  Atalanta  joined  herself  to  the  hunters, 
and  first  wounded  the  boar,  which  Meleager 
soon  after  killed. 

He  congratulated  Atalanta  more,  because  she 
W’-ounded  the  wild  beast,  than  himself,  who  had 
killed  it,  and  therefore  gave  her  the  boar’s  skin. 

But  the  uncles  of  Meleager,  being  enraged, 
look  the  present  from  the  virgin ; whereupon 
Bleleager,  the  giver,  killed  them.  When  his 
mother  Althea  understood  that  her  brothers 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


were  killed  by  her  son,  being  mad  with  fury, 
she  prepared  herself  for  revenge.  In  Aithaga’s 
chamber,  when  she  brought  forth  Meleager, 
there  was  a stick,  which  the  Fates  took  and 
threw  into  the  tire,  saying,  That  the  infant 
should  live  as  long  as  it  remained  unconsumed. 
The  mother  speedily  snatched  it  out  of  the 
fire,  quenched  it  with  water,  and  laid  it  up.  But 
ROW,  moved  with  rage  for  the  slaughter  of  her 
brothers,  she  cast  the  branch  into  the  flames, 
which  burning,  he  also  felt  the  fire  in  his  bow- 
els, and  at  last,  together  with  it,  was  reduced 
to  ashes. 


HEATHEN  GODS'. 


S3 

CHAPTER  XI. 

CERES. 

CERES  is  represented  as  a lady,  tall  in  stat- 
ure, venerable  with  majesty,  beautified  with 
yellow  hair,  and  crowned  with  a turban,  com- 
posed of  the  ears  of  corn  ; her  bosom  swells 
with  large  and  snowy-white  breasts  : She  liokls 
in  her  right  hand  a burning  torch,  and  in  her 
left  a handful  of  poppies  and  ears  of  corn. 

She  was  begotten  of  Saturn  and  Ops,  and  of 
so  remarkable  beauty,  that  she  drew  the  gods 
themselves  into  the  love  and  admiration  of  her- 
self. She  being  loved  by  her  brothers  Jupiter 
and  Neptune,  and  -also  debauched  by  them, 
brought  forth  Proserpina  to  the  former ; but  it 
is  uncertain,  whether  a daughter  or  horse  to 
the  latter.  For  some  say,  that  she  cast  herself 
among  a drove  of  ioares,  that  she  might  avoid 
the  embraces  of  Neptune,  and  instanliy  put  on 
the  shape  of  a mare  ; and  that  her  brother,  ob- 
serving this,  became  a horse,  and  from  her  be- 
gat Arion, 

CerTS  took  this  disgrace  very  ill,  exceediiig- 
ly  larijented  her  lost  honor,  and  testified  her 
sorrow  by  mourniug  clothes  : After  that,  slie 
so  hid  herself  in  the  dark  recesses  of  a cave, 
that  none  of  the  gods  could  know  what  became 
of  her;  until  Pan,  the  god  of  the  woods,  dis- 
covered her  by  chance,  and  told  Jupiter,  w ho, 
having  sent  the  Fates  to  her,  at  last  persuaded 
her  to  lay  aside  her  grief;  and  rise  out  of  the 


84 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


cave,  to  the  great  good  and  joy  of  all.  For  at 
that  time,  they  say,  that  all  sorts  of  living  crea- 
tures were  infected  with  a grievous  plague,  and 
that  the  fruits  of  the  earth,  and  granaries,  every 
where  corrupted ; and  no  wonder,  since  Ceres 
the  very  goddess  of  the  fruits  skulked,  and  con- 
cealed herself.  She  first  invented  and  taught 
the  art  of  tilling  the  earth,  of  sowing  pulse  and 
corn,  and  of  making  bread,  whereas  before  men 
eat  only  acorns.  As  soon  as  agriculture  was 
introduced,  and  men  began  to  contend  about 
the  limits  of  those  fields,  which  though  before 
rough  and  uncultivated,  being  covered  with 
briars  and  unprofitable  plants,  now  brought  so 
much  profit,  she  enacted  laws,  and  determined 
the  rights  and  properties  of  those  who  disputed. 

Ceres  is  beautiful,  because  the  earth,  which 
she  resembles,  gives  a very  delightful  and 
beautiful  spectacle  to  beholders  ; especially 
when  it  is  arrayed  with  plants,  diversified  with 
trees,  adorned  with  flowers,  enriched  with 
fruits,  and  covered  with  green  herbs,  when  it 
displays  the  honors  of  the  Spring,  and  pours 
forth  the  gifts  of  Autumn  with  a bountiful  hand. 
Her  hair  is  yellow,  for  the  ears  of  com  are  of  a 
golden  color,  when  they  come  to  maturity. 
She  has  breasts  swelling  with  milk ; because 
the  earth,  impregnated  wdth  seed,  and  big  with 
fruits,  brings  forth  all  things  out  of  itself,  and, 
like  a mother,  feeds  and  nourishes  us. 

She  holds  a lighted  torch,  because  when 
Proserpina  was  stolen  away  by  Pluto,  she  light- 
ed torches  with  the  flames  which  burst  from 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


85 


ihe  top  of  Moimt  jEtna,  and  with  them  sought 
her  daughter  through  the  whole  world.  She 
also  carries  poppies,  because,  when  spent  with 
grief,  she  could  not  obtain  the  least  rest  or 
sleep,  Jupiter  gave  her  poppies  to  eat,  which 
plant,  they  say,  has  a power  of  creating  sleep 
and  forgelfuiness. 

Triptoiemus  was  the  son  of  Eleusius  or  Ce- 
reus.  Ceres  educated  him  from  his  infancy 
upon  this  occasion : Whilst  she  sought  Proser- 
pina by  sea  and  land,  she  turned  out  of  her 
way  iolo  the  city  Eleusis,  where  the  father  of 
Triptoiemus  entertained  her  with  the  greatest 
civility  ; in  return  of  which  kindness,  she  bred 
up  his  son,  feeding  him  in  the  day  time  with 
celestial  and  divine  milk ; but  in  the  night 
covering  him  over  with  hre. 

The  child  growing  op  sooner  than  ordinary, 
in  a few  days  discovered  his  education  more 
than  human.  Wherefore  the  father,  being  as- 
tonished, desired  to  know  how  Ceres  had  man- 
aged his  son  : And  while  he  observed  all  things 
out  of  a private  piece,  he  saw  Triptoiemus 
covered  by  Ceres  with  -borniog  coals.  Imme- 
diately he  cried  out,  that  Ills  son  was  killed, 
and  rail  to  save  him. 

Here  Ceres  punished  the/rash  eurioslty  of 
the  man  with  death.  Then  she  pul  up  Trip- 
tolenius  into  her  own  chariot,  and  sent  him 
throughout  the  whole  world,  to  shew  men  the 
use  of  corn;  which  he  executed  faithfully,  and 
obtained  his  name  from  thence. 

There  is  an  Evet  at  Ceres  feet,  who 

K 


86 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


formerly  a boy,  and  changed  by  that  goddess 
into  a beast  like  a lizard.  For  when  Ceres, 
wearied  with  the  labor  of  her  journey,  and 
scorched  w ith  thirst,  came  to  a certain  cottage, 
and  earnestly  begged  an  old  woman  living 
there,  to  give  her  water  to  wash  her  mouth  ; 
the  old  w oman  gave  her  barley  broth ; which, 
whilst  the  goddess  sopped  op  greedily,  the  son, 
a saucy  boy,  called  Steliio,  mocked  her.  This 
enraged  Ceres  so  much,  that  she  tbrew^  some 
of  the  broth  into  his  face,  and  tmoied  him  into 
an  Evet. 

Eresichthon,  conlemning  the  sacrihces  of 
this  goddess,  when  he  had  defiled  her  grove, 
and  cut  down  one  of  her  oaks,  was  |)unlshed 
with  insatiable  hunger ; so  that,  having  devour- 
ed all  his  food  and  eHects,  he  was  forced 
to  eat  his  own  desh  to  support  his  body,  and 
to  bring  upon  himself  an  horrible  death,  that 
he  might  the  better  sustain  Ms  life. 

Among  all  the  Cerealia,  or  sacrihces  insti- 
tuted in  honor  of  Ceres,  the  chief  are  the  Eiu- 
sinia,  so  called  from  the  city  Eleusis.  Of  these 
w ere  two  sorts ; the  Majora,  consecrated  to 
Ceres;  and  the  Minora  to  Proserpina. 

It  was  a custom,  that  those  who  were  to  be 
initiated  in  the  Majora,  never  put  off  the 
clothes,  which  they  then  W'Ore,  till  they  fell  off 
in  rags. 

In  the  Majora  and  Minora,  a perpetual  and 
wonderful  silence  was  kept ; so  that  to  publish 
any  thing  concerning  them  was  a crime. 

In  these  sacrifices  they  carried  lighted  torch- 
es ; because  w ith  them  Ceres  sought  her  daugh- 


i 


HEATHEX  GODS.  87 

ter;  crying  out  tlirough  ail  the  streets  and 
highways,  Proserpina,  and  filling  all  places 
with  their  dismal  howlings. 

Games  were  also  celebrated  in  these  sacrifi* 
ces,  in  which  the  victors  were  adorned  with  a 
barlej^  crown. 

The  Thesmopboria  were  instituted  by  Trip- 
tolemus ; and  those  women,  who  vowed  to 
maintain  perpetual  virginity,  were  initiated  in 
them.  For  some  days  a fast  was  kept ; and 
wine  was  altogether  banished  from  her  altar. 

A swine  was  sacrificed  to  Ceres ; because 
that  animal  hurts  the  fruits  of  the  earth  ; and 
garlands,  composed  of  ears  of  corn,  were  offer- 
ed to  her,  as  Tally  asserts. 

Ambervalia  were  instituted  to  purge  the 
fields,  and  beg  fruitfulness  and  plenty ; and 
were  so  called,  because  the  sacrifice  surroun- 
ded the  land'^,  and  was  led  about  through  the 
fields! 

These  sacrifices  were  performed  by  husband- 
jnen,  carrying  a victim,  namely  a sow  big  with 
young,  or  a cow-calf  thrice  through  the  corn 
and  hay,  in  the  beginning  of  harvest,  while 
the  fields  resounded  with  the  joyful  acclama- 
tions, and  merry  dancing  of  the  rustics  follow- 
ing them. 

Meanwhile  one  of  them,  adorned  with  a 
crown,  sung  the  praises  of  Ceres ; and  after 
they  had  offered  mead  mixed  with  milk,  before 
they  reaped  the  fruits,  they  sacrificed  the  sow 
to  the  goddess  Ceres. 

Some  make  Vesta  the  globe  of  the  earth: 


HltrATnEN  GODS. 


^8 

Ceres  the  soil  or  surface  of  it,  which  is  plougbr 
ed  and  sown,  and  Proserpina  all  that  side  of 
the  earth  which  lies  under  our  feet. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


MERCURY. 

MERCURY  is  represented  as  a young  man, 
with  a cheerful  countenance,  an  honest  look, 
and  lively  eyes;  fair  without  paint,  having 
winged  shoes  and  hat,  and  holding  in  his  hand 
a winged  rod,  bound  about  with  two  serpents.  ^ 

His  parents  were  Jupiter  and  Maia,  daught-  I 
er  of  Atlas ; and  for  that  reason,  perhaps,  they  | 
used  to  sacrifice  to  him  in  the  month  of  May. 
They  say,  indeed,  that  Juno,  for  some  time,  ^ 
gave  him  the  breast ; and,  that  her  milk,  which 
he  sucked  too  greedily  ra  n out  of  his  mouth  upon 
the  heavens  ; from  which  the  milky  way  had  its 
name. 

He  had  many  remarkable  qualities,  on  ac- 
oount  of  which,  they  w orshipped  him  as  a god. 

He  is  said  to  have  invented  letters,  and  the 
use  of  them.  He  excelled  in  eloquence,  and 
the  faculty  of  speaking  ; and  therefore  w as  ac- 
counted the  god  of  rhetoricians  and  orators. 

He  is  also  reported  to  have  been  the  first  in- 
ventor of  contracts,  w^eights  and  measures ; 
and  taught  the  arts  of  buying,  selling,  and  traf- 
fic ; and  thence  was  called  the  god  of  mer- 
qhants,  and  of  gain. 

In  the  art  of  thieving  he  far  excelled  all  oth- 


H Z 


90 


KEATHEN  GOBS. 


er  sharpers,  for  he  is  the  prince  and  god  of 
such.  The  very  day  in  which  he  was  horn, 
he  stole  away  the  cows  of  king  Admetus, 
though  tended  by  Apollo  himself:  Who,  while 
he  complained  of  the  theft,  v/ould  fright  him 
with  threats,  and  had  bent  his  bow  with  an  in- 
tent of  revenge,  but  found  himself  robbed  of 
his  quiver  and  arrows  also  ; and  so  being  pleas- 
ed with  the  deceit,  turned  his  resentment  into 
laughter. 

He,  being  as  yet  an  infant,  and  entertained 
by  Vulcan  in  his  house,  privately  conveyed 
away  his  working  tools.  He  snatched  Venus’s 
girdle,  whilst  she  embraced  him  : And,  having 
taken  Jupiter’s  sceptre,  he  designed  to  pilfer 
the  thunder  also,  but  feared,  lest  it  should  burn 
him.  He  was  a wonderful  master  at  making 
peace;  and  therefore  sometimes  was  painted 
with  golden  chains,  flowing  from  his  mouth, 
with  which  he  linked  together  the  minds  of  his 
hearers  ; and  he  pacified  not  only  mortals,  but 
also  the  gods  themselves,  when  they  quarrell- 
ed. This  pacificatory  faculty  is  signified  by 
the  rod,  which  he  holds  in  his  hand,  and  which 
formerly  he  got  from  Apollo,  to  whom  he  bad 
before  given  a harp.  This  wonderful  virtue 
of  deciding  controversies  appeared  by  two  ser- 
pents fighting,  which  Mercury,  by  interposing 
his  rod,  presently  reconciled ; so  that  twisting 
with  a mutual  embrace,  they  stuck  to  the  rod, 
which  is  called  Caduceus  ; and  from  hence  all 
ambassadors,  sent  to  make  peace,  are  called 
caduceatores. 


HEATHEN  GODS.  Q1 

He  had  diverse  offices ; the  chief  were,  to 
carry  the  commands  of  Jupiter ; whence  he 
was  commonly  called  the  messenger  of  the 
gods  : To  sweep  the  room  in  which  they  used 
to  feast ; to  make  the  beds,  and  perform  other 
mean  and  servile  offices  of  that  kind  : Also  to 
attend  persons  dying : to  unloose  their  souls 
from  the  chains  of  the  body,  and  carry  them 
down  to  hell : Likewise  to  revive,  and  replace 
into  new  bodies,  those  that  had  already  com- 
pleted their  time  in  the  Elysian  fields. 

By  his  sister  Venus  he  had  a son,  Herma- 
phroditus  by  name,  famous  for  beauty,  of  won- 
derful modesty,  and  remarkable  for  his  hatred 
of  w^omen.  The  nymph  Salmacis,  an  inhabi- 
tant of  the  woods,  which  he  frequently  ranged 
in  hunting,  greatly  admired  him  : She  often 
tempted  the  youth,  but  as  often  suffered  a re- 
pulse : At  last  she  laid  a snare  for  him  at  a 
fountain,  whither  when  he  came  to  bathe,  she 
also  leaped  into  the  water ; yet  neither  so 
could  she  overcome  his  extraordinary  chastity. 
Therefore  turning  to  the  gods,  she  is  said  to 
have  prayed,  that  their  two  bodies  might  unite 
and  become  one  ; wffiich  she  obtained.  The 
youth  was  amazed  at  the  change  of  his  body, 
and  desiring  to  have  some  like  him,  for  a con- 
solation of  his  grief,  he  obtained  his  w ish  ; for 
whosoever  washed  in  that  fountain  became  an 
hermaphrodite,  having  both  sexes. 

One  Battus,  a herdsman,  by  chance  saw 
Mercury  driving  away  the  cows  of  king  Adme- 
tus  from  Apollo : When  Mercury  perceived  it^ 


92 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


he  went  to  the  man,  desired  that  he  would  dig 
cover  the  theft  to  no  body,  and  to  his  entreat- 
ies added  a present,  a delicate  cow,  as  a re- 
ward of  secrecy.  Battus  promised ; but  Mer- 
cury to  try  his  faith,  soon  after  returned  to  him 
in  another  shape,  and  asked  about  the  cows 
that  were  stolen,  if  he  saw  them,  or  knew  the 
place  w hither  the  thief  had  carried  them.  Bat- 
tus denied ; but  Mercury  pressed  hard,  and 
promised,  that  he  would  give  him  both  a bull 
and  a cow,  if  he  w ould  tell.  Being  taken  with 
the  promise,  he  points  out  the  place  and  the 
cows.  Here  Mercury,  enraged  with  anger, 
having  laid  aside  his  disguise,  turned  him  into 
a stone  called  Index, 

In  the  sacrifices  of  this  god  they  offered  a 
calf,  milk,  honey,  and  especially  the  tongues 
of  the  victims,  in  allusion  of  his  oratorical  abil- 
ities, they  also  hung  a purse  to  his  statue,  to 
denote  that  he  was  the  god  of  the  merchants  : 
And  gave  him  the  name  Delius,  because  of  his 
fraud  and  treachery. 


CHAPTER  XIIT. 


HERCULES. 

THE  twelve  preceding  heathen  deities  are 
called  the  Dii  majorura  gentium.  The  follow- 
ing six,  viz.  Hercules,  Bacchus,  iEsculapius. 
Romulus,  Castor  and  Pollux,  are  called  the 
Dii  minorum  gentium,  or  Demi  Gods ; or  as 
some  write  it,  Semi  Dei. 


§4 


HEATHEN  GODS?. 


The  Semi  Dei  are  supposed  to  have  sacrtil 
minds  and  celestial  souls  in  human  bodies,  and  I 
to  be  born  for  the  good  and  safety  of  mankind.  | 
The  chief  of  all  the  heroes  is  Hercules,  son  ! 
of  Jupiter  and  Alcmena,  wife  of  Amphitryo,  i 
king  of  Thebes.  For  when  Amphitryo  was  ; 

absent,  Jupiter,  having  assumed  his  shape  and  | 

dress,  came  to  Alcmena  the  queen,  who,  think- 
ing that  her  husband  had  returned,  entertained 
the  deceitful  god  both  at  table  and  in  bed  ; and 
had  by  him  a son,  of  that  largeness  of  limbs, 
and  firmness  of  powers,  and  strength  of  body,  i 
that  the  god  found  a necessity  to  employ  three  j 
nights  joined  into  one,  in  pcodueing  a son  of  i 
such  marvellous  valor.  1 

Juno  having  discovered  the  adultery  of  her  | 
husband,  was  inflamed  with  so  great  hatred  | 
against  Hercules,  that  she  laid  all  the  snares,  , | 
that  jealousy  could  contrive,  for  his  destruct-  ' 
ion.  First,  she  obtained  an  edict  from  Jupiter, 
which  she  endeavored  to  turn  to  his  ruin.  For 
when  the  wife  of  Sthenelus,  king  of  Mycenas, 
was  big  with  Euristheus,  at  the  same  time  in 
which  Hercules  was  in  the  womb,  Jupiter  or- 
dained, that  whomsoever  of  the  tw  o sliould  be 
first  born,  he  should  exercise  authority  over 
the  other:  Juno  therefore  accelerating  the 
birth  of  Euristheus,  he  came  before  Hercules, 
and  so  obtained  a right  and  superiority  over 
him.  Soon  after  his  birth,  also,  she  sent  two 
vipers  to  slay  him  in  the  cradle,  but  in  vain  ; 
for  the  valiant  infant,  snatching  them  with  his 
hands,  griped  and  killed  them  with  his  grasp. 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


95 


At  length,  by  the  mediation  of  Pallas,  Juno 
%vas  reconciled  to  the  noble  youth,  and  gave 
Mm  the  breast,  which  the  infant  having  hurt 
by  sucking  too  greedily,  the  goddess  out  of  an- 
ger immediately  weaned  him. 

Hercules  was  not  only  subjected  to  Eurlst- 
hens,  by  the  edict  of  Jupiter,  and  unkindness 
of  Jimo  ; but  besides,  was  advised  and  persua- 
ded by  the  oracle  of  Apollo,  that  he  should 
submit  himself  to  Euristheus,  obey  his  com- 
mands, and  especially  undergo  the  twelve  la- 
bors, which  his  master  was  to  enjoin. 

Hercules  obeyed  the  Fates,  and  served  his 
master  twelve  years,  w herein  he  executed  the 
most  dangerous  and  difficult  commands,  with 
like  labor  and  success,  particularly  these  twelve 
wMch  follow. 

I.  He  tore  in  pieces,  with  his  nails,  the  lion 
in  the  Nemean  wood,  which  was  believed  to 
have  fallen  from  the  orb  of  the  moon,  and  was 
invulnerable  by  any  weapon.  He  wore  the 
skin  for  a shield  and  breastplate. 

li.  In  the  lake  Lerna  he  killed  a serpent 
with  seven  heads,  some  say  nine,  others  reck- 
on up  fifty ; a monster  so  dreadful,  that  one 
head  being  cut  off,  another  presently  sprang  up 
in  its  place,  unless  the  blood,  issuing  from  the 
wound,  was  stopped  by  fire,  lolaus,  the  son 
of  iphidus,  gave  him  lighted  brands,  with 
which  he  staunched  the  blood  ; wherefore  when 
lie  became  decrepid  and  old,  Hercules,  by 
prayers,  restored  him  to  youth  again,  as  a re- 
"ward  of  his  good  service. 


HEATH^EN  GODS. 


III.  Oil  Erymanthus,  a mountain  of  Arra~ 
dia,  be  bound  a boar,  whose  fierceness  and  big^' 
ness  was  equally  terrible,  and  brought  it  to 
Euristbeos. 

IV.  Being  ordered  to  bring  to  Mycense  a 
bind  having  brazen  feet,  and  golden  borns^ 
which  none  dared  to  wound,  because  she  was 
consecrated  to  Diana,  and  which  none  could 
catch  by  running;  yet  Hercules,  having  pur- 
sued her  a whole  year,  at  Iasi  took,  and  broyght 
her  on  his  shouldeis  to  Eorisiheos. 

Y.  He  partly  killed,  and  partly  drove  away 
the  birds,  caiietl  Sty  mpha tides,  from  the  lake 
of  Styoiphalus,  which  used  to  feed  upon  immaM 
ilesb. 

YL  He  defeated  the  amiy  of  the  Amozans, 
and  took  from  Hyppoliie,  their  queen,  the  iiii- 
est  belt  ill  the  world. 

VIL  in  one  day  he  cleansed  the  stable  of- 
Augeas,  wherein  three  thousand  oxen  were 
stabled  thirty  years,  the  doog  being  never  car- 
ried out,  which  he  efiected  by  turising  a river 
into  it. 

YilL  He  tamed  a great  boll,  that  did  in- 
numerable mischiefs  to  the  island  of  Crete,  and 
brought  him  bound  to  Eiirisiheus. 

IX.  He  overcame  Diomedes,  the  most  cruel 
tyrant  of  Thrace,  wdso  fed  Im  horses  with  the 
tlesh  of  his  guests,  and  gave  him  to  his  own 
liorses  for  fodder. 

X,  Be  conquered  in  war  the  three  bodied 
Qeryon,  drove  away  hh  bay  oxen,  who  de- 
voured slrangeri,  and  brought  them  into  Italy, 


Heathen  gods. 


gi 


having  first  killed  the  dragon  with  seven  heads^ 
and  the  two  headed  dog  which  guarded  them. 

XL  He  carried  away  the  golden  apples,  in 
the  gardens  of  the  Hesperides,  having  first  kih 
led  the  dragon  that  kept  them. 

XII.  Lastly,  Being  commanded  by  the  Eu- 
fistheus  to  penetrate  into  hell,  and  bring  the 
dog  Cerberus  thence,  he  performed  it  without 
delay,  drawing  the  three  headed  monster^ 
bound  in  a triple  chain,  up  to  the  earth.  When 
Cerbeus  saw  the  light,  he  is  said  to  have  vom- 
ited, from  whence  the  poisonous  herb  wolfs- 
bane sprang. 

Besides  these,  there  are  other  proofs  of  hh 
valor,  worthy  to  be  mentioned.  For,  he  van- 
quished the  giant  Antaeus,  son  of  the  earthy 
more  than  sixty  four  cubits  high,  so  barbarous 
to  all  strangers,  that  compelling  them  to  wrest- 
le with  him,  he  choked  them. 

Busirls,  son  of  Neptune,  used  to  sacrifice  to 
his  father  all  strangers  that  he  could  catch,  till 
Hercules  offered  both  him  and  his  son  upon 
the  same  altar. 

He  killed  tke  giants  Albion  and  BergioDj 
w ho  intended  to  stop  his  journey  : And  when, 
in  the  fight,  his  arrows  failed  Mm,  having 
ing  prayed  to  Jupiter,  he  is  said  to  have  ob- 
tain ed  a shower  of  stoned,  by  which  he  defeat- 
ed  and  put  to  flight  his  enemies. 

When  Atlas  was  weary,  and  sinking  under 
his  burden,  Hercules  took  and  carried  the  heav- 

i ens  on  his  shoulders. 

! 

ii 


9S 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


He  overcame  and  strangled  the  fire  vomiting 
robber  Cacus. 

With  an  arrow  he  shot  the  eagle  that  de- 
voured the  liver  of  Prometheus  chained  to  the 
rock. 

He  slew  Theodamus  because  he  denied  him 
victuals  : But  he  took  Hylas  his  son  with  him 
and  was  very  kind  to  him. 

He  delivered  Hesione,  daughter  of  Laome- 
don,  king  of  Troy,  from  the  whale,  a sea  mon- 
ster, to  which  she  was  exposed,  in  this  man- 
ner : He  raised,  on  a sudden,  a bank  in  that 
place,  where  the  whale  Avas  to  devour  her,  and 
stood  there  armed  ; whither  when  the  monster 
came  v/ith  open  mouth,  he  leaped  into  his 
throat,  and  sliding  down  into  his  belly,  spent 
three  days  in  tearing  him  within  ; but  at  length 
he  burst  through  safe,  having  lost  only  his  hair. 
Afterwards,  Laomedon  not  standing  to  his 
promises,  and  refusing  to  pay  the  plighted  re- 
ward, Hercules  stormed  and  pillaged  Troy, 
and  gave  Hesione  to  Telamon,  who  first  moun- 
ted the  wall,  in  part  of  the  booty. 

W hen  Achelous,  the  son  of  Oceanus  and 
Terra,  and  Hercules,  contended  in  a single 
combat  for  Deianira,  who  was  betrothed  to 
both,  he  overcame  his  rival,  though  he  turned 
himself  sometimes  bito  a serpent,  sometimes 
into  a bull ; for  one  of  ins  horns  being  plucked 
off,  he  Avas  obliged  to  yield.  Achelous  Avas 
truly  a river  of  Greece,  Avinding  like  a ser- 
pent; and  forroAving  the  fields,  where  it  flovs, 
with  its  Avaters  makes  a noise,  imitating  the 
roaring  of  a bulL 


HEATHEN  GOBS.  9^ 

This  river  divides  itself  into  two  streamSj 
but  Hercules,  with  banks,  forced  it  into  one 
channel ; and  so,  the  sand  being  drained,  there 
followed  great  plenty  of  fruits  of  ^very  kind. 

Deianira  was  the  daughter  of  Gen eus,  king 
of  iEtolia.  After  Hercules  married  her,  hav- 
ing  a deep  river  to  pass  through,  Nessus  the 
Centaur  offered  his  assistance  to  carry  through 
Deianira  on  his  back,  which  accordingly  he 
did.  When  he  was  on  the  other  side,  he  pre- 
pared to  offer  violence  to  her ; but  Hercules 
enraged  at  the  sauciness  of  the  monster,  even 
swimming,  robbed  him  of  his  life  with  an  ar- 
row. Nessus  dying,  gave  to  Deianira  his 
bloody  coat  in  a present,  which,  he  said,  had  a 
power  of  restraining  her  husband  from  unlaw- 
ful amours,  if  he  should  wear  it. 

The  credulous  lady  accepted  the  present, 
and,  some  time  after,  experienced  its  virtue 
otherwise  than  she  expected.  For  when  Her- 
cules, who  was  invincible,  and  unbroken  by  so 
many  and  so  great  labors,  became  softened  with 
pleasure,  and  being  overcome  with  the  charms 
of  Omphale,  queen  of  Lydia,  served  her  as  a 
handmaid,  having  changed  his  club  into  a dis- 
taff, and  his  arrows  into  a spindle  ; seeing  also 
he  so  desperately  loved  lole,  the  daughter  of 
Eurytus,  king  of  Oechalia;  his  wife  Deianira, 
taking  it  ill,  and  desiro:;s  of  turning  him  from 
unlawful  amours,  sent  him  Nossns's  coat,  which 
having  put  on,  when  he  was  to  sacrifice,  being 
instantly  driven  into  distraction,  he  burned 
himself  in  the  pile  which  he  raised,  and  after 
his  death  was  enrolled  among  the  gods. 


HEATHEN  eODS*  101 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

BACCHUS. 

BACCHUS  is  a filthy,  shameless  and  iiii™ 
modest  god ; with  a body  naked,  red  face,  las- 
civious look,  swollen  cheeks,  fat  breast,  big 
belly,  and  distended  paunch;  in  an  effeminate 
posture,  dispirited  with  luxury,  and  intoxicated 
with  wine.  He  is  crowned  with  ivy  and  vine 
leaves,  and  in  his  hand  holds  a thyrsus  for  a 
sceptre.  His  chariot  is  drawn  sometimes  by 
tigers  and  lions,  sometimes  by  lynxes  and 
fianthers  : A drunken  band  of  Satyrs,  demons, 
and  nymphs  presiding  over  the  wine  presses, 
fairies  of  the  fountains,  and  priestesses  attend 
him  as  his  guard,  and  old  Silenus,  riding  on  an 
ass,  brings  up  the  rear.  He  is  painted  with 
horns,  and  sometimes  a smooth  and  beardless 
youth,  frequently  also  an  old  man. 

Concerning  the  birth  and  kindred  of  Bac- 
chus, the  poets  say,  that  Jupiter,  being  charm» 
ed  with  the  love  of  Semele,  daughter  of  Cad- 
mus, very  much  moved  the  jealousy  of  his 
wife  Juno,  who  therefore  contriving  snares  for 
the  wanton,  visited  her  in  the  shape  of  an  old 
woman,  congratulated  her  acquaintance  with 
the  king  of  the  gods,  and  advised,  that  she 
would  oblige  him  by  an  inviolable  oath,  to 
promise  whatever  she  should  ask : And  then, 
says  she,  you  shall  ask,  that  he  come  to  you 
with  all  the  ensigns  of  his  dignity,  as  he  uses 
to  the  bed  of  his  royal  spouse.  The  advic© 

I 2 


KEATKEN  GODS^ 


MB 

extremely  pleased  Seniele,  and  when  hrst  she 
saw  the  god,  she  begged  a favor,  but  without  a 
name,  which  he  forthwith  promised,  and  bound 
himself  by  the  Stygian  Lake  to  perform.  Ju- 
piter, having  heard  the  request,  grieved  much, 
yet  arrayed  with  his  greatest  glory,  and  terri- 
ble with  his  tremendous  majesty,  unwilling  en- 
ters the  house  of  Semele ; who,  unable  to  sus- 
tain the  etherial  tumult,  being  struck  down 
with  the  lightning,  and  stupified  with  the  thun- 
der, was  soon  reduced  into  ashes,  and  her  pal- 
ace perished  in  the  flames,  which  her  ambition 
had  Idndled. 

Meanwhile  the  child  Bacchus,  with  whom 
she  was  big,  is  taken  out  of  the  w^omb  of  the 
unhappy  mother,  and  sewed  into  his  father’s 
thigh,  till  the  full  time  of  his  nativity.  When 
he  was  born,  Jupiter  delivered  him  to  Mercu- 
ry, to  be  carried  into  Euboea,  to  Macris,  daugh- 
ter of  Aristhaeus,  Avho  first  anointed  the  lips  of 
the  infant  with  honey,  and  brought  him  up 
Avith  great  care,  in  a*  cave  having  two  gates. 

Bacchus  invented  so  many  things  useful  to 
mankind,  either  in  finishing  controversies, 
building  cities,  enacting  laws,  or  obtaining 
victories,  that  therefore  he  Avas  admitted  into 
the  council  of  the  gods  by  the  joint  suffrages 
of  the  whole  AAorld.  Yea,  even  his  priestess- 
es, hy  striking  the  earth  with  their  thyrsi, 
drcAV  forth  rivers  of  milk,  honey  and  wine,  and 
Avrought  several  other  miracles  by  the  pow  er  of 
that  god.  He  first  invented  the  use  of  Avine, 
mid  taught  the  art  of  planting  the  vine,  the 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


103 


method  of  making  honey,  and  tilling  the 
ground.  V/hen  he  was  king  of  Phoenicia,  he 
tirst  discovered  to  his  subjects  the  manner  of 
traffic  and  navigation.  He  reduced  men,  wand- 
ering after  the  manner  of  beasts,  into  society 
and  union,  brought  them  over  to  religion,  and 
the  knowledge  of  the  gods,  and  excelled  in  the 
mystery  of  prophesying. 

He  subdued  India,  Egypt,  Syria,  Phrygia, 
and  all  the  East,  and  there  erected  pillars  as 
Hercules  did  in  the  West.  He  rode  upon  an 
elephant,  and  first  invented  triumphs  and 
crowns  for  kings. 

Bacchus,  willing  to  oblige  Midas,  king  of 
Phrygia,  by  some  favor, -because  he  had  often 
deserved  well  of  him,  bid  him  ask  at  large,  and 
promised  that  he  should  be  master  of  his  high- 
est wish.  The  king  immediately  requested, 
that  whatever  he  should  touch  might  be  turned 
into  gold.  The  god  was  sorry,  yet  consented. 
Midas  soon  perceived,  that  he  had  sought  a 
boon  very  destructive  and  dangerous  to  him- 
self; for  being  to  take  meat  and  drink,  he 
found  that  they  also  became  gold,  and  that 
therefore  he  must  perish  by  hunger  and  thirst. 
Now  repenting  of  his  folly,  and  praying  that 
the  dear  bought  gift  might  be  recalled,  the  god, 
being  moved  with  compassion,  ordered  him  to 
bathe  in  the  river  Pactolus,  of  Lydia,  and  from 
thence  the  sand  of  that  river  became  gold. 

In  the  sacred  rites  of  Bacchus,  there  are 
three  things  to  be  considered  ; the  things  that 
are  offered,  the  priests,  and,  the  sacrifices  them- 


104 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


selves,  which  are  celebrated  with  peculiar  cer 
emonies.  Of  plants  and  trees  were  consecra- 
ted to  him,  bindweed,  the  fir,  the  ivy,  the  fig 
and  the  vine  : Of  animals,  the  dragon,  and  the 
pye,  signifying  the  talkativeness  of  drunkards: 
The  goat  was  offered,  being  a creature  de- 
structive to  the  vines  ; and,  among  the  Egyp- 
tians, they  killed  a swine  to  his  honor  before 
their  doors.  The  Satyrs,  the  Sileni,  the  Nai- 
ades, but  especially  the  women,  called  Bacchse 
from  himself,  presided  over  the  holy  mysteries. 

The  sacrifices  were  various,  according  to 
the  variety  of  nations  and  places,  and  celebrat- 
ed with  difierent  ceremonies,  on  stated  days, 
w ith  the  greatest  religion,  or  rather  the  rankest 
profaneness  and  impiety. 

Oscophoria  were  first  instituted  by  the  Phoe- 
nicians, when  boys,  carrying  vine  leaves  in 
Iheir  hands,  went  praying  from  the  temple  of 
Bacchus  to  the  chapel  of  Pallas. 

Trieterica  were  acted  in  the  winter,  and  by 
night ; when  the  Bacchae,  wandering  about 
armed,  predicted  things  to  come. 

Epileneea,  were  games  in  the  time  of  the 
vintage;  when  they  contended  at  treading  the 
gra|>es,  and  singing,  all  the  while,  the  praises 
of  Bacchus. 

Canephoria,  among  the  ancient  Athenians, 
were  performed  by  marriageable  virgins,  car- 
rying  golden  baskets  filled  with  the  first  fruits 
of  the  year. 

Apaturia  were  feasts  in  honor  of  Bacchus, 
setting  forth,  how  greatly  men  are  deceived  by 
wine. 


G©D».  105 

Ambrosia  were  observed  in  January  ; be- 
cause that  month  was  sacred  to  this  god. 

Ascalia  were  so  called  from  a Greek  word 
signifying  bottles ; many  whereof  they  filled 
with  wind,  or  with  wine,  and  leaping  upon 
them  with  one  foot,  they  thought  that  they  did 
great  honor  to  Bacchus,  because  they  thus 
trampled  upon  the  skin  of  the  goat,  who  is  the 
greatest  enemy  to  the  vines. 

Lastly,  the  Bacchanalia,  or  Dyonysia,  or 
Orgia,  were  feasts  among  the  Romans,  solem- 
nized in  February,  at  midday,  at  first  by  wo- 
men only ; but  afterwards  by  men  also,  by 
boys  and  girls,  who  left  no  sort  of  lewdness 
and  debauchery  uncommitted ; for  upon  this 
occasion,  rapes,  whoredoms,  poison,  murder, 
and  such  abominable  imjiieties  were  promoted 
under  a pretence  of  religion,  till,  by  an  edict  of 
the  senate,  these  destructive  festivals  were  ab- 
rogated. 

As  to  the  historical  sense  of  the  fable  ; some 
by  Bacchus  understand  Nimrod,  not  only  from 
the  similitude  of  their  names  and  epithets,  but 
because  he  may  be  said,  not  improperly,  to 
preside  over  the  vines,  seeing  he  was  the  first 
king  of  Babylon,  where  were  the  most  excel- 
lent wines,  celebrated  among  the  ancients. 

Others  think,  that  Bacchus  was  Moses ; be- 
cause many  things  in  the  fable  of  the  one, 
seem  derived  from  the  history  of  the  other. 
For  the  god  was  supposed  to  have  been  bom 
in  Egypt,  presently  shut  up  in  an  ark,  and 
thrown  upon  the  waters,  as  was  also  Moses. 


106 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


His  sirname  Bi mater  may  be  ascribed  to  the 
prophet,  who  had  one  mother  by  nature,  anoth- 
er by  adoption,  namely,  the  daughter  of  king 
Pharaoh. 

Both  were  remarkable  for  beauty,  educated 
in  Arabia,  famous  in  war,  and  had  women  in 
their  armies.  Orpheus  stiles  Bacchus  a law- 
giver, calls  him  Moses,  and  attributes  to  him 
the  two  tables  of  the  law.  And  as  Bacchus 
was  represented  double  horned,  so  the  face  of 
Moses  appeared,  from  what  time  he  spoke  with 
God  in  the  mountain : His  head  seemed  to 
shine  with  rays  of  glory  darting  from  his  brow, 
as  if  they  were  horns. 

As  the  Bacch©  brought  water  from  a rock, 
by  striking  it  with  the  thyrsus,  and  opened 
whole  rivers  of  milk,  wine  and  honey,  where- 
soever they  went ; so  the  land  of  Canaan,  to 
which  Moses  brought  the  Israelites,  flowed  not 
only  with  milk  and  honey,  but  wine  also,  as 
appears  from  that  noble  vine  branch  cut  off 
with  its  grapes,  which  two  men  carried  upon  a 
staff.  Bacchus  passed  through  the  rivers  Oron- 
tes  and  Hydaspes,  which  were  dried  up,  being 
touched  by  his  thyrsus  ; as  was  done  by  Moses 
ill  the  Red  Sea. 

It  is  also  said,  that  an  ivy  stick,  thrown 
down  by  one  of  the  Bacchae  upon  the  ground, 
crept  like  a dragon,  and  twisted  itself  about  an 
oak.  And  lastly,  that  the  Indians  were  once 
covered  with  darkness,  whilst  those  Bacchse 
enjoyed  a perfect  day.  From  which  we  may 
collect,  that  the  ancient  inventors  of  fables 


J 


HEATHEN  GODS.  i07 

have  borrowed  many  things  from  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  to  patch  up  their  conceits. 

The  moral  sense  of  the  fable  shews  wane  and 
its  effects.  Jupiter,  limping  with  Bacchus 
sewed  in  his  thigh,  resembles  a man  burdened 
and  overcome  with  drunkenness,  who  not  only 
halts,  but  reels  and  stumbles,  and  madly  rushes 
wherever  the  force  of  the  wine  carries  him. 
As  he  was  born  amidst  thunder  and  lightning  ; 
so  wine  often  produces  quarrels,  violence, 
noise  and  confusion.  He  is  an  eternal  boy : 
And  indeed  old  men  themselves  become  boys 
again  by  too  much  wine ; for  excess  takes  from 
those,  who  too  freely  indulge  in  drinking,  the 
use  of  reason,  by  which  men  are  distinguished 
from  children. 

He  is  naked ; because  the  drunkard  cannot 
conceal  or  hide  any  thing.  There  is  truth  in 
wine ; for  it  opens  the  secrets  of  the  mind  and 
body  too.  By  his  horns  is  signified,  that  wine 
not  only  dispels  cares  and  troubles,  but  also 
makes  even  the  meanest  bold,  insolent  and 
fierce. 

He  is  crowned  w ith  ivy  ; because  that  plant 
always  green  and  flourishing,  by  its  natural 
coolness,  assuages  the  heat  occasioned  by 
drunkenness. 

Women  commonly  celebrated  the  sacrifices 
of  Bacchus,  and  those  enraged,  intoxicated, 
and  abandoned  to  all  wickedness.  Accord- 
ingly wine  effeminates  minds  the  most  mascu- 
line, and  disposes  them  to  luxury  : It  begets 
anger,  stirs  up  men  to  madness  ; and  therefore 


108 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


tigers  and  lions  draw  the  chariot  of  that  god. 

The  Bacchanalia  were  celebrated  by  per- 
sons masked ; for  wine  introduces  the  figures, 
as  w ell  as  manners  of  wild  beasts,  changing 
one  into  a lion,  another  into  a bear,  this  into  a 
swine,  that  into  an  ass. 

Bacchus  is  sometimes  merry,  and  sometimes 
morose  and  sad  ; for  nothing  so  much  cherish- 
es the  heart  of  man  as  wine:  Nothing  more 
delightfully  refreshes  the  spirits  and  mihd,  than 
that  natural  nectar,  which  being  moderately 
taken,  all  our  griefs  and  cares  fly  away,  and 
unusual  cheerfulness  appears  in  the  counten- 
ance. Whereas  excess  of  wine  causeth  sad- 
ness, for  though  it  is  the  cradle  of  Life,  yet  it 
is  also  the  grave  of  Reason : So  that  when  the 
body  is  drowned  in  liquor,  the  mind  floats,  or 
else  is  stranded. 

Drunkenness  weakens  every  member ; it 
blinds  the  sight,  and  especially  then,  when  it 
draws  little  stars  from  the  eyes:  It  makes  the 
head  to  totter,  the  hams  to  sink,  the  feet  to  fail, 
the  hands  to  tremble,  the  mouth  to  froth,  the 
eyes  to  sparkle  and  water,  the  faultering  tongue 
to  attempt  unintelligible  words,  and  the  throat 
10  send  forth  a most  loathsome  stench. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


MSCULAPIUS. 

^ESCULAPIUS  was  the  son  of  Apollo  by 
the  nymph  Coroais,  and  was  accounted  the 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


ilO 

god  of  the  physicians,  because  he  had  muck 
improved  physic.  He  appears  lo  be  a beard- 
ed old  man,  leaning  on  a jointed  cane,  adorn- 
ed with  a laurel  crown,  and  encompassed  with 
dogs. 

Apollo  shot  the  nymph  his  mother  with  an 
arrow,  because  she  suffered  herself  to  be  de- 
bauched by  another  young  man ; but  soon  re- 
penting of  the  act,  having  opened  her  belly,  he 
took  out  the  child  alive,  and  delivered  him  to 
Chiron,  a physician,  to  be  educated,  who 
taught  him  his  own  art. 

The  youth  so  excelled  in  medicine,  that,  be- 
cause he  restored  health  to  the  sick,  and  safety 
to  those  who  were  despaired  of,  he  w as  thought 
to  recal  the  dead  to  life  again.  Whereupon 
Pluto,  the  king  of  hell,  complained  to  Jupiter, 
that  his  revenue  was  diminished,  and  his  sub- 
jects taken  away : At  length  he  obtained  that 
Jupiter,  by  a stroke  of  his  thunder,,  killed  iEs- 
Gulapius. 

He  wears  a crown  of  laurel,  because  that 
tree  is  powerful  in  curing  many  diseases.  lie 
holds  a knotted  staff  in  his  hand,  to  signify  the 
cUfticuity  of  the  art  of  physic.  He  had  dogs 
painted  about  him,  and  dogs  were  also  placed 
in  his  temple  ; because  it  was  believed  by  ma- 
ny, that  being  born  of  uncertain  parents,  he 
was  exposed,  and  afterwards  nourished  by  a 
bitch.  Others  say,  that  a goat,  which  a dog 
pursued,  gave  suck  to  the  forsaken  infant;  that 
a i«ml  till  dame  was  seen  by  the  shepherds  to 
play  about  his  temples,  which  was  the  prog- 


HEATHEN  GOBS.  Ill 

Hostication  of  his  future  divinity;  and  that  in 
his  sacriiices,  among  the  Cyrenians,  a she  goat 
used  to  be  offered  ; either  because  lie  was  nour- 
ished by  such,  or  because  that  animal  seems  to 
be  contrary  to  health,  seeing  it  is  said  to  labor 
with  a continual  fever. 

Plato  says,  that  they  used  to  sacrifice  to  him 
dunghill  cocks,  which  are  the  most  vigilant  of 
all  birds ; for  of  all  virtues,  principally  wake- 
fulness Is  necessary  to  a physician. 

This  god  was  worshipped  first  at  Epidaurus, 
where  he  was  born  ; afterwards  at  Rome,  whith- 
er being  sent  for,  he  delivered  the  city  from  a 
dreadful  pestilence.  Wherefore  a temple  was 
dedicated  to  him  in  an  island  of  the  Tiber, 
where  they  paid  divine  honors  to  him,  under 
the  form  of  a great  serpent.  For  w hen  the  Ro- 
mans came  to  Epidaurus,  to  transport  this  deity 
from  thence,  a great  serpent  twined  himself 
into  their  ship,  w hich  they  supposing  to  be 
culapius,  brought  to  Rome  with  them.  Others 
say,  that  the  Romans,  being  kindly  received 
by  the  Epidaurians,  were  brought  into  the  tem- 
ple of  ^sculapius,  and  that  the  serpent  under 
whose  image  they  worshipped  that  god,  volun- 
tarily entered  into  the  ship  of  the  Romans. 
His  two  sons,  Machaon  and  Podalirius,  both 
famous  in  the  art  of  physic,  followed  Agamem- 
non, the  general  of  the  Grecians,  and  did  no 
small  service  to  his  fellow  soldiers  at  Troy. 
His  daughters  were  called  Hygisea  and  laso. 

Chiron  the  Centaur,  the  son  of  Saturn  and 
Phillyra,  was  his  master.  When  Saturn  em- 


112 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


braced  that  nymph,  being  surprised  at  the  com- 
ing of  his  wife  Ops,  he  suddenly  changed  him- 
self into  a horse.  Phillyra,  being  with  child 
by  him,  brought  forth  a creature,  whose  upper 
part  resembled  a man,  and  the  lower  a horse, 
called  Chiron  ; who,  when  he  grew^  up,  betoolc 
himself  to  the  woods ; and  there  learning  the 
virtues  of  herbs,  he  became  a most  excellent 
physician,  and  so  excelled,  by  the  commenda- 
tion of  his  other  accomplishments,  that  he  was 
appointed  Achilles’  tutor,  and  taught  ^scula- 
pius  physic.  At  last,  when  he  handled  Her- 
cules’s arrows,  one  of  them,  dipped  in  the  blood 
of  the  Lernseon  Hydra,  accidentally  fell  on 
his  foot,  which  gave  him  a wound  incurable, 
and  pains  intolerable ; insomuch,  that  he  de- 
sired to  die,  but  could  not,  because  he  was 
born  of  parents,  each  of  which  was  immor- 
tal. At  length,  by  the  pity  of  the  gods,  he 
was  translated  into  heaven,  where  he  makes 
ihe  sign  of  Sagittarius  in  the  Zodiac. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


ROMULUS. 

THE  Greeks,  who  were  well  acquainted 
with  the  obscurity  and  uncertainty  in  which 
the  history  of  all  ancient  cities  is  involved, 
claimed  the  honor  of  being  the  founders  of  as 
many  as  possible  of  them.  They  claimed  their 
own  descent  from  the  Pelasgi,  an  ancient  and 
mighty  people  of  Scythia  f and  they  reported 


HEATHEN  GOD«. 


113 


fliat  th«  Pelasgi  were  also  the  founders  of 
Rome.  When  that  city  was  taken  and  sacked 
by  Brennus,  the  Gaul,  the  report  of  this  event 
extended  to  Greece  ; and  Heraclides,  of  Pon- 
tus,  speaking  of  it  in  his  treatise  “ concerning 
the  soul,”  relates  that  an  account  was  brought 
from  the  West,  that  an  army  from  the  country 
of  the  Hyperboreans  (so  the  G reeks  called  the 
Europeans  who  lived  in  the  northern,  and  even 
the  Trans  Alpine  parts  of  Europe)  had  taken 
a Grecian  city  called  Rome,  situated  somewhere 
near  the  Great  Sea.  This  was  the  title  the 
Greeks  gave  to  the  Mediterranean. 

But  the  Romans  themselves  held  that  this 
Grecian  account  of  the  origin  of  Rome,  was 
fabulous ; and  they  supplanted  it  by,  perhaps, 
another  fable.  Indeed  they  had  several  fabu- 
lous stories  of  their  founder  of  Rome ; but  that 
which  obtained  the  most  credit  was,  that  Amu- 
iius  having  fraudulently  obtained  the  kingdom 
of  Alba  from  his  brother  Numitor ; in  order  to 
prevent  any  claim  to  the  throne  through  the 
only  daughter  of  Numitor,  he  made  her  a 
priestess  of  Vesta,  in  which  office  she  was  to 
live  a life  of  the  strictest  chastity  and  virtue. 
But  the  god  Mars  found  means  to  have  some 
intercourse  with  her;  and  in  due  course  of 
time  the  marks  of  the  amour  became  sufficient- 
ly visible.  The  mode  of  punishing  the  viola- 
tion of  their  chastity  by  the  vestal  virgins,  was 
to  bury  them  alive  in  the  earth ; but,  as  a very 
strong  friendship  existed  between  the  daught- 
ers of  Numitor  and  Amalius^  the  daughter  of 


114  HEATHEN  GODS. 

the  latter  prevailed  on  her  father  to  spare  the 
offending  vestal  from  the  punishment  allotted 
to  her  crime ; and  in  due  time  she  was  deliv- 
ered of  two  sons  of  extraordinary  size  and 
beauty.  They  proved  a new  cause  of  alarm  to 
Amulius,  and  he  determined  to  have  them  de- 
ist royed ; and,  by  his  directions,  one  of  Ins  ser- 
vants deposited  them  on  the  banks  of  the  Ti- 
ber, in  a cradle,  or  trough,  in  which  the  river 
carried  them  down  to  a place  called  Cerma- 
Hum,  where  they  drifted  ashore,  and  were 
suckled  by  a she  w olf,  and  fed  by  a woodpeck- 
er; in  consequence  whereof  the  wolf  and  the 
woodpecker  were  dedicated  and  sacred  to  the 
god  Mars.  But  some  say  that  the  daughter  of 
Numitor  was  deflowered  by  Amulius  himself, 
who  went  to  her  in  complete  armor ; and  she 
reported  it  w^as  Mars.  They  also  say  that  the 
children  were  suckled  by  a prostitute,  who  was 
married  to  Faustulus,  their  foster  father,  and 
whose  name  was  Acca  Larentia.  But  as  the 
Latins  called  prostitutes  by  the  name  of  Lupce^ 
thence  arose  the  fable  that  these  children  were 
suckled  by  a wolf.  But,  whatever  she  was, 
the  Romans  honored  her  witii  sacrifices. 

The  Faustulus,  here  mentioned,  was  herds- 
man to  Amulius;  but  he  brought  up  (he  child- 
ren undiscovered  by  him.  Some  assert  that 
Kumitor  had  knowledge  of  the  circumstance* 
and  supplied  the  means  for  their  subsistence* 
They  were  called  Romulus  and  Remus,  from 
the  teat  of  the  wild  animal  they  were  said  to 
They  were  instructed  in  letters  and 


(SOt)S.  1 15 

oilier  suitable  branches  of  education  by  the 
Gabii,  and  made  very  great  progress  in  all  the 
studies  which  were  common  in  that  age.  They 
applied  themselves  to  generous  exercises  and 
pursuits,  in  hunting,  running,  and,  like  Hercu- 
les and  Theseus,  in  apprehending  of  robbers, 
delivering  such  as  w^ere  oppressed  by  violence, 
and  in  other  virtuous  and  honorable  pursuits ; 
by  which  things  they  acquired  renown. 

After  a violent  dispute  the  herdsmen  ofNir- 
iiiitor  drove  away  some  of  the  cattle  of  Amu^ 
lias;  but  Romulus  and  Remus  fell  upon  the 
conquerors,  and  recovered  the  greatest  part  of 
the  boot}^  In  consequence  of  this  affair,  Re- 
mus was  given  up  to  Numitor  to  be  punished  f 
and  the  birth  of  the  young  men  being  discov- 
ered, they  assaulted  Amulius  and  put  him 
death.  After  this  they  placed  Numitor,  their 
grandfather,  on  the  throne  of  Alba  ; and  paid 
due  honor  to  Hiia  their  mother.  From  Alba, 
Romulus  and  Remus  removed  down  the  Tiber, 
with  a view  to  build  a new  city ; and  they 
pitched  upon  the  spot  where  Rome  now  stands. 
But  falling  out  about  the  best  situation,  Remus 
preferring  the  Aventine  Mount  to  the  spot 
marked  out  by  Romulus  on  the  Palatine  Mount, 
an  affray  commenced,  in  w hlch  Remus  w^as 
slain  by  Romulus,  or  some  of  his  party;  and 
Romulus  became  the  sole  founder  of  Rome. 

There  resorted  to  Romulus  in  his  new  city, 
a number  of  outlaws,  and  disorderly  persons^ 
from  various  parts  of  Italy ; and  they  being 
without  wives,  the  rape  of  the  Sabine  virgins 


116 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


was  committed,  by  which  they  procured  six 
hundred  and  eighty  three  virgins.  The  Sa- 
bines Vv^ere  descended  from  the  Lacedaemoni- 
ans ; they  were  a bold,  numerous  and  warlike 
people,  living  in  unwalled  towns.  They  sent 
ambassadors  to  Romulus,  to  demand  their 
daughters ; and  Acron,  king  of  the  Cercinen- 
sians,  advanced  to  chastise  this  insolence.  But 
Romulus  overcame  Acron  in  single  combat ; 
defeated  his  army ; took  his  city,  and  removed 
the  inhabitants  to  Rome.  He  next  defeated 
the  people  of  Fidenae,  Crustumenium,  and  An- 
temnse,  and  removed  them  to  his  new  city; 
dividing  their  lands  among  the  citizens.  The 
rest  of  the  Sabines,  under  Tatius,  carried  the 
war  to  the  gates  of  Rome.  They  entered  the 
city,  and  the  garrison  on  the  hill,  afterward 
called  Capitoline,  was  betrayed  to  them  by 
Tarpeia.  Many  battles  were  fought  by  the 
two  parties,  and  the  war  was  at  length  ended 
by  the  Sabine  women,  who  rushed  between  the 
two  parties  as  they  were  about  to  renew  the 
combat,  and  persuaded  them  to  a peace  ; and 
the  rest  of  the  Sabines  removed  to  Rome. 
Romulus  conquered  the  Fidenates,  and  over- 
threw the  Veientes  in  two  battles;  in  one  of 
which  some  pretend  he  slew  more  than  seven 
thousand  in  one  day  with  his  own  hand.  The 
remainder  of  the  V eientes  were  incorporated 
with  the  Romans. 

After  this,  Romulus  restored  the  captives  to 
the  Veientes,  of  his  own  will,  without  the  con- 
sent of  the  senate^  whereat  the  senators  wejrc 


HEATHEN  GODS.  117 

much  displeased ; and  soon  after  Romulus  dis- 
appeared. Various  accounts  have  been  given 
of  his  death.  That  which  the  Romans  thought 
fit  to  have  believed,  was,  that  in  an  assembly 
of  the  people  without  the  city,  it  became  dark 
and  tempestuous  ; Romulus  disappeared  in  the 
hurricane,  and  he  was  carried  up  to  heaven. 
Orders  were  given  to  honor  and  worship  him  as 
a god,  who  was  thus  caught  up  to  heaven,  'l^he 
common  people  believed  he  would  be  a benefi- 
cent deity.  Some  doubts  and  uneasiness,  it  is 
true,  remained;  but  they  were  cleared  up  by 
Julius  Proculus,  a friend  of  Romulus,  who  ac- 
companied him  from  Alba.  He  went  into  the 
forum  and  made  oath,  that  as  he  was  travelling 
he  met  Romulus  in  a form  more  noble  and  au- 
gust than  ever,  and  clad  in  bright  and  dazzling 
armor.  Romulus  informed  him  that  it  had 
pleased  the  gods  to  allow  him  to  dwell  with 
men  for  some  time ; but  that  as  he  bad  found- 
ed them  a city,  he  had  returned  to  heaven  from 
whence  he  came.  He  gave  directions  that  the 
Romans  should  w^orship  him  under  the  title  of 
the  god  Quirinus ; with  which  they  religiously 
complied  ; and  they  believed  he  had  been  car- 
ried up  to  heaven  in  the  chariot  of  his  father 
Mars,  the  god  of  war. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


119 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

CASTOR  AND  POLLUX. 

CASTOR  and  Pollux  were  twin  brolherg^ 
sons  of  Jupiter  and  Leda,  wife  of  Tyndarus, 
king  of  Laconia.  Jupiter  loved  her,  but  could 
not  succeed  in  his  amour,  till  being  changed 
into  a swan,  he  gained  her  mutual  atfection  by 
the  sweetness  of  his  singing ; and  flying  into 
her  bosom,  as  it  were  into  an  assylum,  to  es- 
cape the  violence  of  an  eagle  pursuing  him,  he 
abused  her,  though  already  pregnant  by  her 
husband.  From  this  embrace  she  afterwards 
brought  forth  two  eggs,  which,  being  hatcheck 
produced  these  brothers,  and  two  sisters  also : 
From  the  one  egg  sprung  Pollux  and  Helena, 
of  divine  seed ; from  the  other  Castor  and 
Clytssmnestra,  begotten  by  the  mortal  father. 
Both  the  brothers  went  with  Jason  to  Colchis; 
w hence  having  returned,  they  recovered  their 
sister  Helena,  whom  Theseus  had  stolen,  by 
subduing  the  Athenians,  who  fought  for  him. 
Their  clemency  and  humanity  towards  that 
conquered  people  w as  so  great,  that  they  offer- 
ed white  iambs  upon  their  altars.  When  Cas- 
tor, as  being  mortal,  was  killed  by  Linceus, 
Pollux  prayed  that  Jupiter  would  restore  him 
to  life,  and  confer  immortality  upon  him ; 
which  when  he  could  not  obtain,  yet  leave 
was  granted,  that  he  should  share  his  own  with 
his  brother ; so  that  afterwards  they  lived  by 
turns,  and  at  length  w^ere  both  translated  int# 


120 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


heaven,  and  changed  into  stars,  now  called 
Gemini.  These  were  esteemed  lucky  and 
prosperous  to  mariners,  because  formerly,  when 
a violent  tempest  seized  the  Argonauts,  two 
lambent  flames  seemed  to  settle  upon  the  heads 
of  Castor  and  Pollux,  and  a wonderful  calm  im- 
mediately ensued;  whence  it  was  believed, 
that  something  more  than  human  was  in  these 
youths  : But  if  ordy  one  flame  appeared,  which 
they  called  Helena,  it  portended  certain  de- 
struction to  sailors. 

A famous  temple  was  dedicated  to  Castor 
and  Pollux,  in  the  Forum  at  Rome;  because 
in  the  dangerous  battle  with  the  Latins,  it  was 
believed  that  they,  riding  on  while  horses,  as- 
sisted the  Romans. 

Clytaemnestre,  who  was  the  sister  of  Castor, 
and  daughter  of  Tyndarus,  afterwards  was  mar- 
ried to  Agamemnon,  whom,  being  returned 
from  the  siege  of  Troy,  she  killed,  by  the  help 
of  ASgistheus,  her  gallant,  designing  the  same 
fate  to  her  son  Orestes,  but  that  his  sister  Elec- 
tra  delivered  him  from  certain  destruction, 
sending  him  privately  to  Strophius,  king  of  the 
Phocenses.  Having  stayed  there  twelve  years, 
he  returned  into  his  native  country,  and  slew 
Clytsemnestra  and  iEgistheus  her  adulterer. 

He  killed  Pyrrhus  also  in  th^  temple  of  Apol- 
lo, because  he  had  carried  away  Herraione,  the 
daughter  of  Menelaus,  formerly  betrothed  to 
him. 

For  these  crimes  he  was  tormented  by 
Furies,  and  could  not  be  freed  from  them,  till 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


121 


he  had  expiated  his  wickedness  at  the  altar  of 
Diana  Taurica,  whither  he  was  conducted  by 
Py lades,  his  friend,  perpetual  com  )aaion,  and 
the  partner  of  all  his  dangers,  with  whom  he 
cultivated  a friendship  so  strictly,  that  the  one 
did  not  refuse  to  die  for  the  other. 

Diana  Taurica  was  worshipped  in  Taurica 
Chersonesus,  a peninsula,  so  called  from  the 
Tauri,  a people  of  Scythia  Europ^a.  This 
goddess  was  worshipped  with  human  victims. 
At  that  time,  when  Orestes  was  brought  into 
her  temple,  Iphigenia  his  sister,  the  daughter 
of  Agamemnon,  was  priestess.  She  was  made 
upon  the  following  occasion:  Agamemnon, 
king  of  the  Argivi,  by  the  common  consent  of 
all  Greece,  was  appointed  general  in  the  expe- 
dition against  Troy. 

By  chance,  in  Aulis  he  killed  a deer  be- 
longing to  Diana  ; whereupon  the  Goddess  be- 
ing enraged,  caused  a calm,  very  prejudicial  to 
the  Grecians  sailing  to  Troy,  so  that  their  ships 
stood  fixed  and  imnioveable.  The  soothsay- 
ers, being  consulted,  answered,  that  Uie  winds 
and  Diana  are  to  be  satisfied,  with  the  blood  of 
Agamemnon,  or  some  of  his  family.  Where- 
fore Ulysses  was  forthwith  sent  to  bring  away 
Iphigenia,  the  daughter  of  Agamemnon,  from 
her  mother,  by  a trick,  pretending  that  she  was 
to  be  married  to  Achilles.  Whilst  she  is  pla- 
ced at  the  altar  to  be  sacrificed,  the  goddess, 
pitying  her,  substituted  a hind  for  her,  and  sent 
the  virgin  into  Taurica  Chersonesus;  where, 
by  the  order  of  king  Thoas,  she  presided  over 
L 


122 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


the  sacrifices  of  that  goddess,  which  used  to  be 
solemnized  with  human  blood.  And  when  O- 
restes  was  brought  thither  by  the  inhabitants 
to  be  sacrificed,  he  was  known  and  preserved 
by  his  sister. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

SATURN. 

THE  following  heathen  deities  have  not 
been  regularly  classed  by  the  my thologists ; 
therefore  we  shall  arrange  them  according  to 
the  rank  they  held  in  the  estimation  of  their 
votaries. 

Saturn  was  painted  a decrepid,  wrinkled  old 
man,  with  a long  beard,  and  hoary  head  : His 
shoulders  are  bowed  into  an  arch;  his  jaws  dry 
and  hollow ; his  eyes  full  of  corruption ; his 
(Cheeks  sunk ; his  nose  flat ; his  forehead  fur- 
rowed ; his  chin  turning  up ; his  lips  black  and 
blue ; his  little  ears  flagging,  and  his  hands 
crooked.  In  his  right  hand  he  holds  a rusty 
scythe,  and  in  his  left  a serpent,  biting  its  own 
tail. 

Saturn  was  the  son  of  Terra,  or  Vesta,  and 
Coelum,  Coelus  or  Coslius,  who  was  the  offspring 
of  ^ther  and  Dies,  and  the  most  ancient  of  all 
the  Gods. 

This  Coelum  married  his  own  daughter  Vesta, 
and  begat  of  her  many  children ; the  most  em- 
inent of  which  was  Saturn,  whose  brothers  were 


U4 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


the  Cyclops,  Oceanus,  Titan,  the  hundred 
handed  Giants,  and  divers  others : His  sisters 
were  Ceres  Tethys,  and  Ops,  or  Rhea,  whom 
afterwards  he  had  to  wife.  These  sisters  per- 
suaded their  mother  Vesta,  that  she  should 
exclude  Titan  or  Titanus,  the  eldest  son,  and 
that  the  kingdom  should  be  devolved  upon  Sat- 
urn, though  it  belonged  to  his  brother  by  he- 
reditary nght. 

When  Titan  saw  his  mother  and  sister  zeal- 
ous for  his  brother,  thinking  fit  to  yield  to  the 
time,  he  quitted  his  right,  and  transferred  it  to 
Saturn,  upon  this  condition,  that  he  should 
bring  up  no  male  child,  and  that  after  his  death, 
the  kingdom  should  return  to  Titan’s  posterity. 

Saturn  not  only  accepted  the  condition,  but 
kept  it  with  strict  fidelity,  whilst  he  could,  but 
at  last  his  design  was  prevented  ; for  when  his 
wife  Ops  perceived  that  he  devoured  all  the 
male  children,  having  brought  forth  Jupiter  and 
Juno  at  one  birth,  she  ofiered  the  daughter  to 
him,  but  sent  away  the  son  Jupiter  to  be  nurs- 
ed privately  in  Mount  Ida,  by  the  Curetes  and 
Cory  ban  tes.  priests  of  Cyhele,  who  used  to 
make  a noise  with  drums  and  cymbals,  that  the 
crying  of  the  infant  might  not  be  heard  by  Sat- 
urn. By  the  same  trick  she  saved  Neptune 
and  Pluto  from  her  devouring  husband. 

This  artifice  of  Ops  being  discovered,  Sat- 
urn demanded  the  boy  of  her : But  she  gave 
him  a stone  wrapped  up  in  swaddling  clothes 
for  Jupiter,  which  he  swallowed  down  instantly. 

Meanwhile  Titan,  finding  himself  cheated. 


HEATHEN  €ODS. 


125 


ami  the  agreement  broken ; to  revenge  the  in- 
jury. raised  forces,  made  war  against  Saturn, 
took  both  him  and  Rhea,  and  sent  them  bound 
down  to  hell;  till  some  years  after,  Jupiter, 
having  conquered  the  Titans  in  war,  set  his 
father  and  mother  at  liberty. 

But  though  Saturn  ought  to  have  been  mind- 
ful of  this  kindness,  and  to  have  favoured  Ju- 
piter for  the  future,  yet  he  laid  snares  for  him ; 
because  lie  had  learned  from  the  oracle,  that 
he  should  be  driven  out  of  his  kingdom  by  bis 
own  son  ; which  accordingly  happened.  For 
Jupiter  deposed  him  from  his  throne,  expelled 
him  the  kingdom,  and,  besides,  when  he  saw 
him  drunk  with  mead,  he  bound  and  castrated 
him,  as  he  had  before  served  his  father  Coelum, 
with  his  sickle. 

Saturn,  having  left  his  kingdom,  went  into 
Italy,  which  was  heretofore  called  Saturnina 
from  him,  and  there  lived  with  king  Janus  ; al- 

that  part  of  Italj^  which  he  inhabited,  and 
In  which  he  lay  hid,  was  called  Latlum. 

Here  Saturn,  being  taken  by  Janus  into  a 
«hare  of  the  kingdom,  reduced  the  wild  people, 
wandering  up  and  down  after  the  manner  of 
beasts,  to  civil  society,  and  joined  them  as  it 
were  with  brazen  chains,  that  is,  by  brass  mom 
ey,  which  he  invented  ; and  therefore,  on  the 
one  side  of  the  money  was  stamped  the  ship’ 
In  which  Saturn  was  brought  to  Italy,  and  on 
the  other,  Janus  Bifrons.  But  although  the 
money  was  brass,  this  was  called  the  Golden 
Age ; and  the  poets  would  persuade  tlieir  cfei- 
2 


126 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


ulous  posterity,  that  the  earth  without  any  cul* 
ture,  brought  forth  the  fruits,  and  that  all  things 
were  common  ; that  there  were  no  differences 
nor  contentions  among  mortals  ; for  all  things 
happened  according  to  every  one’s  mind. 

They  sacrificed  to  Saturn  with  human 
blood ; and  therefore  gladiators  were  placed 
under  his  protection  and  were  employed  in  his 
feasts.  They  had  their  heads  bare,  in  the  time 
of  the  sacrifice,  and  the  priests  were  dressed  in 
scarlet  garments.  His  altar  shone  with  waxen 
tapers  lighted  ; because  by  Saturn  they  were 
reduced  from  the  darkness  of  error  to  the  light 
of  truth. 

The  feasts,  called  Saturnalia,  w’^ere  instituted 
by  Tullus,  king  of  the  Romans,  or,  if  we  be- 
lieve Livy,  by  Sempronius  and  Minutius  the 
consuls. 

Till  the  time  of  Julius  Caesar,  they  were 
finished  in  one  day,  to  wit,  on  the  fourteenth 
of  the  Calends  of  December : For  then  they 
began  to  be  celebrated  in  three  days,  and  af- 
terwards in  four  or  five,  by  order  of  Caligula  ; 
some  w rite,  that  they  have  been  lengthened  out 
to  the  seventh  day.  Upon  these  festival  days, 
the  senate  did  not  tit;  the  schools  kept  holy 
day ; presents  w ere  sent  to  and  fro  amongst 
friends ; it  was  unlawful  to  proclaim  war,  and 
to  inflict  punishments  on  the  guilty.  It  was 
allowed  to  servants  to  sfjort  with  their  masters. 
Yea,  the  masters  waited  on  the  servants  sitting 
at  table,  in  memory  of  that  liberty,  which  all 
enjoyed  in  the  reign  of  Saturn,  when  there 


HEATHEN  G^BS. 


127 


was  n©  servitude.  Contrary  to  custom  they 
washed  in  the  morning  immediately  after  they 
rose  out  of  bed,  as  if  they  were  to  go  to  table, 
And  lastly.  They  used  a festival  garment,  cal- 
led Synthesis,  of  a purple  or  scarlet  color, 
which  was  the  dress  of  the  men  of  higher  dis- 
tinction. 

Some  say,  that  Saturn  was  Nimrod,  the  foun- 
der of  the  Babylonian  empire  ; yet  it  is  more 
probable  that  he  was  Noah. 

The  physical  sense  of  the  hible  is,  that  by 
Saturn  is  signified  time,  which  devours  all 
things,  as  Saturn  does  bis  OAvn  children.  And 
as  he  is  said  to  vomit  them  up  again,  so  time 
constantly  swallows  up  da}^s,  months  and  years, 
and  produces  them  anew.  He  is  not  imf>rop- 
erly  said  to  have  been  the  son  of  Coelum  or 
heaven,  for  the  motions  of  the  heavens  are  the 
measures  of  time.  His  altars  were  always  a- 
dorned  with  abundance  of  w^ax  tapers,  to  show, 
that  he  brought  men  from  the  darkness  of  error 
to  the  light  of  truth.  Lastly,  as  Saturn  carries 
a scythe,  so  time  is  painted,  mowing  down  all 
things  with  his. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


U9 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PAN. 

PAN  is  the  god  of  the  woods,  and  had  this 
name,  either  because  he  was  the  son  of  Penel* 
©pe  from  the  embraces  of  all  her  wooers,  or  be- 
cause he  exhilarated  the  minds  of  all  the  gods 
with  the  music  of  the  pipe,  which  he  invented, 
and  by  the  harmony  of  the  cittern,  upon  which 
he  played  skilfully,  as  soon  as  he  was  born  : 
Or,  perhaps,  he  is  called  Pan,  because  he  gov- 
erns the  affairs  of  the  universal  world  by  his 
mind,  as  he  represents  it  by  his  body.  He 
was  worshipped  at  Rome,  where  he  had  a tem- 
ple buiU  at  the  foot  of  the  Palatine  Hill ; his 
feasts  were  called  Lupercalia,  and  his  priests 
Luperci.  His  descent  is  uncertain ; but  the 
common  opinion  is,  that  he  was  born  of  Mercu- 
ry and  Penelope.  For  Mercury,  loving  her, 
and  not  being  able  to  move  her  to  his  wishes, 
at  last  changed  himself  into  a very  white  goat, 
obtained  his  desire,  and  begat  Pan  of  her,  when 
she  kept  the  sheep  of  her  father  Icarus,  in  the 
mountain  Taygetus.  Pan,  after  his  birth,  was 
lapped  up  in  the  skin  of  a hare,  and  carried  in- 
to heaven. 

He  is  described  half  a goat,  and  horned, 
crowned  with  pine  leaves,  with  a smiling  and 
ruddy  face,  the  feet  and  tail  of  a goat,  and  dres- 
sed in  a spotted  skin : He  holds  a crooked  staff 
in  one  hand,  and  m the  other  a pipe  composed 


130  HEATHEN  GOBS. 

of  uneven  reeds,  with  the  music  of  which,  he 
can  cheer  even  the  gods  themselves. 

Pan  is  a symbol  of  the  universal  world : In 
his  upper  part  he  resembles  a man,  because  the 
superior  and  celestial  part  of  the  world  is  beau- 
tiful, radiant  and  glorious,  as  the  face  of  this 
god,  whose  redness  is  like  the  splendor  of  the 
sky ; and  his  spotted  skin  is  an  image  of  the 
starrj^  firmament.  In  his  lower  parts  he  is 
shagged  and  deformed,  which  represents  the 
shrubs,  wild  beasts,  and  trees  of  the  earth  : His 
pipe  of  seven  reeds  signify  the  harmony  of  the 
seven  planets. 

They  say,  that  when  Pan  blows  his  pipe, 
the  nymphs  dance  round  him,  and  the  dugs  of 
the  sheep  are  filled  with  milk  ; for  he  is  the 
god  of  the  shepherds  and  hunters,  the  captain 
of  the  nymphs,  the  president  of  the  mountains, 
and  of  a country  life,  and  the  guardian  of  the 
flocks,  that  graze  upon  the  mountains. 

Although  h!s  aspect  is  very  deformed,  yet 
being  changed  into  a white  ram,  he  gratified 
the  moon  : The  nymph  Echo  also,  becoming 
pregnant  by  him,  brought  forth  a daughter  cal- 
led Irioges,  who  gave  Medea  the  medicines, 
wherewith  she  charmed  Jason.  He  could  not 
but  please  Dry  ope,  when  he  laid  aside  his  di- 
vinity, and  made  himself  a shepherd  for  her 
sake. 

But  he  could  not  court  the  nymph  Syrinx, 
with  such  success : For  when  she  ran  away, 
that  she  might  avoid  so  filthy  a lover,  she  came 
to  a river,  by  which  being  stopped,  she  there 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


131 


begged  the  Naiades,  because  she  could  not  es- 
cape the  pursuing  god,  that  they  would  change 
her  into  reeds ; which  being  granted.  Pan  of 
them  made  a pipe,  which  was  called  Syrinx, 
from  the  name  oi*  the  nymph.  In  the  sacrifi- 
ces of  this  god,  they  offered  milk  and  hon4y  in 
shepherds^  bottles. 

He  was  worshipped  chiefly  in  Arcadia, 
whence  he  is  often  stilecj  the  god  of  that  coun- 
try. 


HEATHEN  GOD«. 


V33 


CHAPTER  XX. 

JANUS. 

JANUS  was  the  son  of  Coelus  and  Heeate,^ 
having  a double  face  and  forehead,  in  one  and 
the  same  head  ; hence  he  is  called  the  two  fa« 
ced  god ; and  therefore  he  sees  the  things  pla* 
ced  behind  his  back,  as  well  as  before  bis  face. 
In  his  right  hand  he  holds  a key,  and  in  hie 
left  a rod ; and  beneath  his  feet  are  twelve  al- 
tars. Pliny  says,  that  his  statue  which  was 
set  up  by  Nuraa,  had  its  fingers  so  composed^ 
as  to  signify  the  number  of  365  days.  He  had 
a rod,  because  he  was  guardian  of  the  ways. 
He  was  inventor  of  locks,  doors  and  gates,  all 
which  were  under  his  protection,  and  therefore 
he  held  a key ; or  because  he  opens  the  gates, 
through  which  the  prayers  of  mortals  are  con- 
veyed to  the  ears  of  the  gods ; which  was  the 
cause  why,  in  the  sacrifices  of  the  other  gods, 
prayers  were  made  to  him  first.  He  is  also 
said  to  open  the  year,  of  which  the  first  month 
derives  its  name  from  him.  The  twelve  altars 
dedicated  to  him  signify  the  twelve  months ; 
and  the  number,  which  he  reckoned  by  the 
bending  of  his  fingers,  equal  the  days  of  the 
year. 

He  had  several  temples  built  and  dedicated 
to  him,  some  of  which  had  double  doors,  others 
four  gates ; because  he  sometimes  was  repre* 
sented  with  four  faces,  denoting  the  four 
of  the  year. 


HEATHEN  GOD$. 


134 

It  was  a custom  among  the  Romans,  that,  m 
his  temple  the  consuls  were  inaugurated,  and 
from  thence  said  to  open  the  year  on  the  Ka- 
lends of  January,  when  a new  laurel,  instead 
of  the  old,  was  put  on  the  statue  of  that  god. 
The  temple  of  Janus  was  opened  in  time  of 
war,  and  shut  in  time  of  peace  ; and  it  is  w on- 
derful,  that,  within  the  space  of  seven  hundred 
years,  this  was  shut  only  thrice;  once  by  Nu- 
ma  ; afterwards  by  the  consuls  Marcus  Attilius, 
and  Titus  Manlius,  after  a league  struck  up 
with  the  Carthagenians ; and  lastly,  by  Au- 
gustus, after  the  victory  at  Actium. 

Some  say,  that  Janus  was  Noah,  others, 
Ogyges,  others  a priest,  philoso[iher  and  a di- 
vine ; and  some  assert,  that  he  was  the  most 
ancient  king  of  Italy,  and  founder  of  the  town 
Janiculum. 

Janus  is  an  emblem  of  a man  of  singular  pru- 
dence, which  consists  in  the  remembrance  of 
things  past,  and  in  the  foresight  of  things  to 
come. 

The  prudent  man  ought  to  have  as  it  were 
two  faces ; that  by  his  natural  sagacity  of  mind^ 
and  ripeness  of  judgment,  having  observed  both 
past  and  future  things,  he  may  be  able  to  dis- 
cern the  causes  and  beginning  of  things ; he 
may  perceive  their  progresses,  and  even  the 
forerunning  accidents  of  all  things ; that  he  may 
make  comparisons,  observe  consequences ; and 
by  a wise  connexion  of  causes  and  events,  be 
able  to  join  ihings  present  with  past  and  future  ; 
fso  that  he  may  judge  right,  and  act  prudently. 


HEATHEN  GO»S. 


135 


The  prudent  man  has  the  key  of  all  things; 
for  nothing  is  so  obscure,  that  his  understand- 
ing cannot  comprehend  ; nothing  is  so  secret 
and  private,  that  his  consideration  and  ©are 
cannot  detect  and  lay  open  ; nothing  so  '^ard 
and  intricate,  that,  by  his  quickness  and  lex- 
terity,  he  cannot  explain  and  unfold. 

By  this  key  of  judgment,  he  examines  all 
the  ways  of  business,  and  finds  out  the  fittest 
of  them  ; he  sees  the  disposition  of  times,  and 
exigences  of  affairs;  he  removes  difficulties, 
publishes  the  things  useful,  and  conceals  the 
hurtful : He  opens  for  himself  a passa  ge  into 
the  friendship  of  others ; he  insinuates  himself 
into  the  inward  recesses  of  their  hearts,  learns 
their  secret  counsels,  resolves  mysteries,  pen- 
etrates things  unknown,  and  seeks,  finds  and 
views,  objects  the  most  remote  from  the  com- 
mon sense  of  the  world. 

Janus  first  instituted  altars,  temples  and  sac- 
rifices. For  it  is  a sign  of  the  highest  pru- 
dence to  pay  due  honors  to  the  Supreme  Deity, 
to  reverence  his  power,  to  propagate  his  wor- 
ship, and  magnify  his  glory. 


CHAPTER  xxr. 


PHOEBUS,  OR  THE  SUN. 

THE  Sun,  which  illuminates  all  things,  is 
called  Sol,  either  because  he  is  the  only  star  of 


136 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


considerable  apparent  magnitude  ; or  because, 
•when  he  rises,  having  darkened  all  the  other, 
he  alone  appears.  The  poets  indeed  say,  that 
there  were  five ; yet  the  chief  was  the  son  of 
Hyperion,  and  nephew  to  jEther,  but  born  of 
an  unknown  mother.  The  Persians  reckon 
Sol  the  greatest  of  their  gods,  and  they  wor- 
ship him  in  a cave.  His  statue  resembled  a li- 
on in  the  head,  shining  in  a Persian  habit  and 
turban,  holding  with  both  hands  the  horns  of  a 
mad  and  struggling  bull.  Those  who  desired 
to  be  initiated  in  the  sacred  rites  of  this  god, 
had  very  many  hardships  to  undergo;  and  ac- 
cess to  the  employment  of  the  priesthood,  and 
knowledge  of  his  mysteries,  was  to  be  found 
only  through  disgraces,  stripes,  colds,  heats,  and 
other  torments.  They  represented  his  power 
by  a sceptre,  on  the  top  whereof  shines  an 
by  which  is  signified,  that  the  Sun  sees^ 
aind  that  all  things  are  seen  by  him. 

No  other  actions  of  So!  are  mentioned,  but 
his  debaucheries  and  loose  intrigues,  whereby 
he  obscured  the  honor  of  his  name : The  more 
remarkable  are  these  which  follow. 

He  debauched  Venus,  in  the  island  of 
Rhodes,  at  which  time,  they  say  it  rained  gold, 
and  the  earth  clothed  itself  with  roses  and  lilies. 

Of  Clymene  he  begat  one  son.  Phaeton,  and 
three  daughters,  Phaethusa,  Lampetia  and  Phoe- 
be. Phaeton  gave  an  opportunity  to  the  poets, 
of  feigning  a fable.  When  Epaphas,  a son  of 
Jupiter,  reproached  him  in  a quarrel,  that  he 
boasted  in  vain  of  Sol  being  his  father ; and 


HUATHEK  GODS.  137 

4hat  it  was  a pretence  of  his  mother  to  cover 
her  adultery ; he,  being  provoked  by  the  slan- 
der, and  persuaded  by  the  advice  of  his  moth- 
er, went  to  the  palace  of  the  Sun,  to  bring  in- 
dubitable marks  of  his  family.  The  Sun  re- 
ceived him  kindly,  and  owned  him  as  his, 
withal,  swearing  by  the  Stygian  Lake,  that  he 
would  deny  nothing  that  he  should  ask,  as  a 
proof  of  his  fatherly  affection.  Phaeton  imme- 
diately desired  the  liberty  of  governing  his 
father’s  chariot  for  one  day. 

Phoebus,  being  bound  by  a solemn  oath, 
which  it  was  unlawful  for  any  of  the  gods  to  vi- 
olate, bewailing  the  rashness  of  the  youth,  and 
using  his  admonitions  and  better  counsels  in 
vain,  at  last,  unwillingly  granted  what  he 
could  not  deny. 

Phaeton,  transported  with  joy,  mounts  the 
chariot,  and  taking  the  reins,  began  to  lash  the 
flaming  steeds ; but  they,  then  finding  him  ig- 
norant of  driving,  ran  away,  and  set  on  fire 
both  heaven  and  earth.  Jupiter,  that  he  might 
put  an  end  to  the  conflagration,  struck  the  au- 
thor of  it  with  a thunderbolt,  and  precipitated 
him  into  the  river  Po.  While  the  sisters  im- 
moderately lament  this  misfortune  at  the  brink 
of  the  river,  by  the  pity  of  the  gods,  they  are 
turned  into  poplar  trees,  weeping  amber  instead 
of  tears. 

By  this  fable  the  ambitious  are  taught,  what 
event  they  ought  to  expect,  who  raise  them- 
iselves  higher  than  becomes  them. 

had  by  Neaera,  a daughter  Pasiph®,  max- 
hZ 


MATHES  GOfiS. 


UB 

ried  to  Minos,  king  of  Crete.  She,  being  la- 
ilaiiied  with  the  love  of  a bull,  and  obtaining 
her  desire  by  the  art  of  Daedalus,  who  had  in- 
closed her  in  a wooden  cow  for  that  purpose, 
brought  forth  a Minotaur^  a monster,  resembling 
a man  in  the  middle  part  of  the  body,  and  a 
bull  in  the  rest.  The  occasion  of  the  fable 
was  ; Pasiphae  bore  twins  in  the  house  of  Dae- 
dalus I the  one  like  her  husband  Minos,  the  oth- 
er resembling  one  called  Taurus,  her  gallant. 

Circe,  the  most  skilful  of  all  sorceresses,  was 
also  a daughter  of  his  by  Perse.  This  Circe 
killed  her  husband,  king  of  the  Sarmatians, 
with  poison ; and  being  therefore  expelled  the 
kingdom  by  her  subjects,  flying  into  Italy,  she 
fixed  her  seat  upon  the  promontory  Circaeum. 
Here  she  saw  and  loved  the  sea  god  Glaucus, 
who  at  that  time  admired  Scylla.  Circe,  rag- 
ing with  love,  having  poisoned  the  Waters, 
where  her  rival  used  to  wash,  turned  the  nymph 
into  a sea  monster.  She  entertained  Ulysses, 
with  great  civility,  who  was  driven  into  that 
place  by  tl^e  violence  of  a storm,  and  at  his  re- 
quest, restored  all  his  companions,  whom  she 
changed  into  hogs,  bears,  wolves,  and  other 
beasts  of  that  kind,  to  their  former  shapes 
ngain.  She  set  upon  Ulysses  himself,  but  in 
vain  ; for  he  was  armed  against  all  her  assaults. 
She  is  also  said  to  have  drawn  down  the  very 
Stars  from  heaven,  by  her  enchantments  ; that 
hence  it  may  aj>pear  more  clearly,  that  by  vo- 
luptuoijsness,  of  which  she  is  an  emblem,  men 
became  ravenous  and  filthy  beasts  \ and  that 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


136 


those,  who  with  the  lustre  of  their  virtues  and 
wit,  shine  in  the  world,  as  stars  in  the  firma^ 
ment,  if  once  they  addict  themselves  to  ob- 
scene pleasures,  are  eclipsed  by  the  clouds  of 
their  vices,  and  fall,  as  it  were  from  heaven^ 
into  obscurity  itself. 

The  Horse  were  also  reputed  the  daughters 
of  Sol  and  Chronis,  who  early  in  the  mornings 
prepare  the  chariot  and  horses  for  their  father^ 
and  open  the  gates  of  the  day. 


HEATHEN  GOD&. 


141 


CHAPTER  XXII^ 

CYBELE. 

CYBELE  hath  her  head  crowned  with  tow- 
ers, and  is  the  goddess  of  cities,  garrisons,  and 
of  all  things  that  the  earth  sustains.  She  is  the 
earth  itself,  on  which  are  built  many  towers 
and  castles. 

In  her  hand  she  carries  a key,  because,  in 
winter,  the  earth  locks  up  her  treasures,  which 
in  the  spring  she  brings  forth,  and  dispenses 
with  a plentiful  hand. 

She  sits  in  a chariot,  because  the  earth  hangs 
in  the  air,  being  poised  by  its  own  weight. 
She  had  her  garments  painted  with  flowers  of 
various  colors,  and  figured  with  the  images  of 
several  creatures,  which  needs  no  explication, 
since  every  body  knows,  that  such  a dress  is 
suitable  to  the  earth. 

The  sacrifices  of  this  goddess  were  celebra- 
ted with  a confused  noise  of  timbrels,  pipes, 
cymbals,  and  the  mad  howling  of  the  sacrifi- 
cers,  who  profaned  both  the  temple  of  their 
goddess,  and  the  ears  and  eyes  of  their  hear- 
ers with  filthy  words  and  rites.  They  opened 
her  temple  with  prayers,  not  hands ; none  en- 
tered who  had  tasted  garlic.  The  priests  sac- 
rificed to  her  sitting  and  touching  the  earth  : 
They  offered  the  heart  of  the  victims ; and 
among  trees,  the  box  and  pine  were  sacred  to 
her.  Her  priests  were  called  Galli,  from  a 


142 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


river  of  Phrygia,  of  whose  waters  whoever 
drank,  being  struck  with  madness,  they  castra- 
ted themselves ; And  when  they  sacrificed, 
they  cut  their  arms  with  knives.  They  were 
also  called  Curetes,  Corybantes,  Telchines, 
Cabiri,  and  Idsei  Dactyli. 

The  Curetes  are  said  to  have  been  Cretans, 
or  ^tolians,  or  Euboeans,  and  bad  their  names 
from  a Greek  word  signifying  shaving.  For 
they  shaved  their  hair  before,  but  not  behind : 
Or  perhaps,  because  they  were  habited  in  long 
vests,  like  maidens  : Or  lastly,  because  there  is 
a report  that  they  educated  Jupiter. 

They  were  called  Corybantes,  because  in 
the  sacrifices  of  their  goddess,  they  tossed  their 
heads,  and  danced,  and  being  as  it  were  mad, 
butted  with  their  foreheads  like  rams. 

When  they  initiated  any  one  in  their  sacrifi- 
ces, they  placed  him  in  a chair,  and  danced 
about  him,  in  the  most  foolish  manner. 

The  Telchines  came  from  Crete  into  Cy- 
prus, and  afterwards  into  the  island  Rhodes, 
and  were  famous  magicians  and  enchanters; 
or,  if  we  believe  others,  they  were  men  well 
deserving  for  the  invention  of  many  arts ; for 
they  are  said  first  to  have  made  the  statues  of 
the  gods. 

The  Cabiri,  or  Caberi,  so  called  from  a 
mountain  of  Phrygia,  were  either  servants  of 
the  gods,  or  gods  themselves,  or  rather  daemons, 
or  the  same  that  the  Corybantes  were. 

The  Idaei  Dactyli  were  servants  and  assist- 
ants of  Magna  Mater. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


143 


They  were  called  Idaei  from  Mount  Ida, 
where  they  lived,  and  Dactyli,  because  being 
ten  males  and  us  many  females,  they  equalled 
the  number  of  the  fingers,  like  which,  constant- 
ly and  every  where,  they  served  Rhea,  who 
used  their  assistance  almost  in  all  things. 


144 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

LATONA. 

LATONA  was  the  daughter  of  Phoebe  and 
Coeus,  the  Titan,  whom,  for  her  great  beauty, 
Jupiter  loved  and  deflowered. 

When  Juno  perceived  her  big,  she  cast  her 
out  of  heaven  to  the  earth,  having  first  obliged 
Terra  to  swear,  that  she  should  not  give  her 
any  where  a habitation  to  bring  forth  in  ; And 
besides,  she  sent  the  serpent  Python  to  perse- 
cute the  wanton  all  over  the  world.  But  in 
vain ; for  in  the  island  Delos,  under  a palm  or 
an  olive  tree,  Latona  brought  forth  Diana,  who 
immediately  performed  the  office  of  a midwife 
to  her  mother,  and  undertook  the  care  of  her 
brother  Apollo,  when  he  was  born.  They  say, 
that  this  island  heretofore  floated  in  the  sea, 
and  then  lay  hid  under  the  waters  when  Terra 
swore,  but  emerged  afterwards  by  the  order  of 
Neptune,  and  became  fixed  and  immoveable 
for  Latona’s  use. 

The  Delos  was  sister  to  Latona,  and  for- 
merly called  Asteria,  whom  Jupiter  loved  and 
courted  ; but  she  was  converted  into  an  island. 
Others  report,  that  she  was  changed  into  a 
quail,  and  flew  into  this  island,  whence  it  was 
called  Ortygia. 

The  pride  of  Niobe,  and  inhuman  barbarity 
of  the  Lycians,  made  the  deity  of  this  goddess 
more  illustrious.  This  Niobe,  the  daughter  of 
Tantalus,  and  wife  of  Amphion,  king  of  Thet 


HEATHEN  com. 


145 

bes,  being  enriched  with  all  the  gifts  of  nature 
and  fortune,  could  not  bear  her  happiness  with 
moderation.  Wherefore  being  puffed  up  with 
pride,  she  began  to  despise  Latona,  and  esteens 
herself  greater  than  her,  boasting  that  fortune 
could  not  hurt  her ; and  although  she  should 
take  many  things  from  her,  yet  she  would  leave 
more  than  Latona  possessed ; that  she  had  bora 
seven  sons,  and  as  many  daughters  to  her 
husband,  and  other  such  like ; thus  preferring 
herself  to  the  goddess  in  every  respect. 

But  in  a short  time  the  mad  queen  was  de- 
prived of  all  her  happiness,  and  reduced  from 
the  highest  good  fortune  to  the  lowest  degree 
of  misery.  For  when  Latona  saw  herself  des- 
pised, and  her  sacrifices  disturbed  by  Niobe, 
she  enjoined  Apollo  and  Diana,  to  revenge  the 
injury  of  their  mother.  They  immediately  fil- 
led a quiver  with  arrows,  betook  themselves  to 
Niobes  palace,  and  killed  first  her  sons,  thea 
her  daughters,  and  their  father  in  the  sight  of 
the  mother ; so  that  being  stupified  with  grief, 
she  was  turned  into  marble,  from  which  as  yet 
flows  a fountain  of  tears. 

The  Rustics  of  Lycia  also  experienced  the 
anger  of  Latona  by  their  own  ruin.  For  whea 
she  wandered  in  the  fields  big  with  twins,  and 
partly  by  the  fatigue  of  her  journey,  partly  by 
the  intolerable  heat,  began  to  burn  with  so 
great  thirst,  that  she  had  almost  perished ; at 
last  she  discovered  a spring  in  the  low  valley, 
and  being  transported  with  joy,  she  ran  to  it, 
and  cast  herself  upon  her  knees  to  drink  tht 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


l46 

cool  waters ; but  the  neighboring  towns  hin- 
dered her,  and  bid  her  depart : She  earnestly 
begged  leave,  which  they  as  surily  denied. 
Wherefore  being  unable  longer  to  bear  the  bar- 
barous treatment,  she  turned  them  into  frogs, 
which  immediately  leaped  into  the  muddy  wa- 
ters, where  they  lived  ever  after. 


CHAPTER  XXIV» 


AURORA. 

AURORA  was  the  daughter  of  Terra  and 
Tytan,  the  sister  of  the  sun  and  moon,  and 
mother  of  all  the  stars  ; though  some  say  of 
Hyperion  and  Thia,  or  else  Pallas  ; of  a ruddy 
countenance,  and  rosy  fingers.^  She  sits  high 
in  a golden  chariot,  with  white  horses  drawing 
it.  She  was  much  taken  with  the  love  of  Ce- 
phalus,  a very  beautiful  youth.  But  v\hen  she 
could  by  no  persuasion  move  him  to  violate 
his  faith  plighted  to  his  wife  Procris,  daughter 
of  the  king  of  Athens,  she  carried  him  up  into 
heaven  by  force  ; neither  yet  could  she  shake 
the  constancy  of  the  man  : Therefore  she  sent 
him  back  to  his  wife,  disguised  in  the  habit  of 
a merchant;  who  being  desirous  to  try  her 
fidelity  towards  hiiAself,  attacked  her  chastity 
by  presents  and  other  endearments.  When 
the  woman  had  almost  made  a surrender,  the 
husband,  being  restored  4o  his  former  shape, 
severely  chid  her  levity.  She,  being  confoun’ 


148 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


ded  with  shame,  hid  herself  in  the  woods,  but 
afterwards  was  reconciled  to  him,  and  gave 
him  an  unerring  arrow,  which  she  had  receiv- 
ed from  Minoe. 

Cephalus,  having  got  this  arrow,  he  spent 
his  whole  time  in  hunting,  and  constantly  pur- 
sued the  wild  beasts.  Procris,  suspeeti#g  that 
he  was  detained  in  the  woods  by  the  love  of 
some  nymph,  went  before,  and  lay  in  a bush  to 
discover  the  truth  of  the  matter:  But  when 
she  moved  herself  carelessly,  her  husband  bent 
his  bow,  and  thinking  that  it  was  a wild  beasts 
shot  his  wife  with  the  same  dart  which  he  got 
from  her. 

Aurora,  being  also  charmed  with  the  singu- 
lar beauty  of  Tithonus,  son  of  Laomedon,  and 
brother  of  Priamus,  carried  him  up  into  heav- 
en, joined  him  to  herself  in  wedlock,  and  from 
the  Fates  obtained  immortality  for  him  instead 
of  a portion.  But  because  she  forgot  to  ask 
perpetual  youth  for  him,  he  is  said  soon  to  have 
arrived  to  a decrepid  age ; so  that  he  was  to  be 
rocked  in  the  cradle,  like  an  infant,  to  sleep. 
Whereupon  being  weary  of  life,  he  besought 
Aurora,  that  he  might  die : She  denied  that  it 
was  in  her  power  to  grant  his  request;  but  she 
turned  him  into  a grasshopper,  which,  they 
eay,  being  wasted  with  old  age,  dies  not,  but 
grows  young  again. 

The  story  is  otherwise  told,  that  Tithonus 
being  a great  lover  of  astronom}^  used  to  rise 
before  break  of  day  to  observe  the  stars,  this 
continual  vigilance  preserved  his  health,  but  at 


HEATHEN  GODS.  14^ 

last  he  was  forced  to  submit  to  the  inconven- 
iences of  old  age.  Nevertheless,  Aurora,  by 
the  help  of  oriental  drugs,  restored  him  to  his 
youth  and  vigor. 

Memnon  was  the  son  of  this  marriage,  who^ 
when  he  came  to  Troy,  to  bring  assistance  to 
Priamiis,  fighting  in  a single  combat  with 
Achilles,  was  slain. 

In  the  place  where  he  fell,  a fountain  arose, 
which  every  year,  the  same  day  on  which  he 
was  killed,  sends  forth  blood  instead  of  water. 
But  when  his  body  was  burning  on  the  funeral 
pile,  by  the  prayers  of  his  mother  Aurora,  he 
was  changed  into  a bird;  and  out  of  the  same 
pile  flew  many  other  birds  of  the  same  kind, 
called  Memnoniae,  which  dividing  into  two 
troops,  and  fighting  with  their  beaks  and  claws^ 
with  their  own  blood  appeased  the  ghost  of 
Memnon,  the  author  of  their  race. 

It  surpasses  credit,  what  they  report  con- 
cerning the  statue  of  this  Memnon,  made  of 
black  marble,  and  set  up  in  Uie  temple  of  Se- 
rapis,  at  Thebes,  in  Egypt;  namely,  that  the 
mouth  of  that  statue,  as  soon  as  the  rays  of  the 
rising  sun  touched  it,  sent  forth  a most  harmo- 
nious sound,  as  though  it  rejoiced  at  the  ap- 
proach of  its  mother ; but,  at  the  setting  sun, 
uttered  a low  and  melancholy  tone,  as  if  it 
grieved  at  her  departure. 

According  to  Homer,  Aurora  had  a passion 
for  Orion,  a lovely  youth  who  delighted  mucb 
in  dogs  and  hunting,  she  is  said  to  have  car- 
ried him  with  her  into  Delos. 

N 2 


HEATHEN  GODS-. 


The  mythologists  also  say,  that  she  is  the 
Biother  of  the  winds,  because  after  a calm  in 
the  night,  the  winds  rise  in  the  morning  as  if 
they  were  attendants  upon  the  sun,  by  whose 
heat  and  light  they  are  begotten. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 


MOLVS. 

^EOLUS  IS  the  god  of  the  winds,  descended 

Jupiter  and  Acesta,  or  Segesta,  daughter  of 
Bippota.  He  dwelt  in  one  of  the  seven  islands 
called  j^olian  from  him ; was  very  expert  in 
astronomy,  and  well  skilled  in  that  science 
^vhich  belongs  to  the  nature  of  the  winds ; and 
so,  because  from  the  clouds,  and  smoke  of  the 
Pollan  islands,  he  foretold  winds  and  tempests 
tong  before  they  arose ; it  was  generally  be- 
lieved, that  the  winds  were  under  his  power, 
and  that  he  could  raise  or  still  them,  when  it 
pleased  him.  He  was  hos[)itable  both  to  gods 
and  men,  just  to  his  subjects,  skilful  in  warlike 
atfairs,  and  accomplished  in  ail  sorts  of  human 
prudence.  He  is  said  to  have  invented  sails 
for  shipping. 

The  jEolian  islands  are  by  some  authors 
said  to  have  lain  long  in  a desert,  barren  state, 
uintil  iEolus,  married  Cyane,  the  daughter  of 
Eiparus,  and  gathering  a multitude  of  people 
together,  caused  those  islands  to  be  inhabited. 
This  Biparus  being  at  variance  his  broth- 


152 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


ers,  sought  shelter  in  one  of  these  islands,  which 
was  before  uninhabited.  He  called  the  island 
Lipara  from  his  own  name.  Some  say,  that 
this  island  was  the  habitation  and  workhouse 
of  Vulcan.  The  ancients  used  to  lay  rough 
iron,  and  the  reward  for  working  it  into  swords 
together  upon  the  shore,  and  next  day  they 
found  them  ready  made. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

MOMUS, 

MOMUS,  which  name  signifies  a jester,  a 
mocker  or  raimick,  is  also  a god.  He  is  rep- 
resented with  a mask  and  grotesque  face,  lives 
an  idle  life,  and  his  only  business  is  nicely  to 
pry  into  the  sayings  and  actions  of  the  other 
gods,  and  if  any  thing  is  done  amiss,  or  duty 
neglected,  he  censures,  mocks  and  derides  them 
with  the  greatest  liberty. 

Neptune,  Vulcan  and  Minerva  can  witness 
this.  For  when  they  contended,  which  of 
them  was  the  most  skilful  artificer,  and  Nep- 
tune made  a bull,  Minerva  a house,  and  Vul- 
can a man,  Momus,  being  chosen  umpire  of  the 
dispute,  chid  them  all. 

He  accused  Neptune  of  imprudence,  because 
he  placed  not  the  bull’s  horns  in  his  very  fore- 
head before  his  eyes ; for  then  he  might  push 
with  a stronger  and  surer  blow  : He  blamed 
Minerva,  because  her  house  was  not  moveable. 


154 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


that  it  might  be  easily  carried  away,  if  by 
chance  she  should  not  have  good  neighbors  : 
But  he  said,  that  Vulcan  was  the  most  impru- 
dent of  them  all,  because,  in  forming  man,  he 
had  not  made  a window  in  his  breast,  that  it 
might  be  seen,  what  every  one  projected  in  bis 
heart,  whether  he  designed  any  thing  of  trick, 
and  whether  he  intended  one  thing  and  spoke 
another.  They  feigned  that  Nox  and  Somaus 
were  his  parents,  and  not  without  reason ; for 
it  is  a sign  of  a dull,  drowsy  and  undiscerning 
disposition  to  disparage  the  actions  of  others ; 
since  all  things  are  liable  to  censure. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

THEMIS,  ASTRJEA  AND  NEMESIS. 

THE  three  goddesses,  Themis,  Astraea  and 
Nemesis,  consult  together  about  great  affairs. 

Themis,  the  first  of  them,  is  the  daughter  of 
Coelum  and  Terra,  whose  office  it  was  to  in- 
struct men  to  do  things  honest,  just  and  right. 
There  was  another  Themis,  the  wife  of  Jupi- 
ter, of  whom  justice,  law  and  peace  are  said  to 
be  born. 

Astrasa,  the  daughter  of  Aurora  and  Astraeus 
the  Titan,  or,  as  others  say,  of  Jupiter  and 
Themis,  was  esteemed  the  princess  of  justice. 
The  poets  feign,  that  in  the  golden  age  she  de- 
scended from  heaven  to  the  earth,  and  being 
offended  at  last  by  the  wickedness  of  mankind,^ 


HEATHEN  GODig.  155 

returned  to  heaven  again,  after  all  the  other 
gods  had  gone  before  her. 

emesis  was  born  of  Jupiter  and  Necessity, 
or,  as  others  affirm,  of  Nox  and  Oceanus  ; she 
was  the  goddess  that  was  a rewarder  of  virtue, 
and  pun  slier  of  vice. 

It  is  said,  that  she  being  debauched  by  Ju- 
piter in  the  shape  of  a goose,  brought  forth  an 
egg,  which  she  gave  to  a shepherd,  to  be  carri- 
ed to  Leda.  The  egg  w^as  laid  up  in  a box, 
and,  soon  after,  Helena  was  produced;  but 
others  think  differently  of  this  matter. 

She  was  also  called  Rhamnusia  from  a town 
in  Attica,  where  she  had  a temple,  in  which 
a statue  of  her  made  of  one  stone,  ten  cubits 
high,  holds  the  bough  of  an  apple  tree  in  its 
hand,  and  wears  a crown,  in  which  were  en- 
graven many  images  of  deer. 

They  also  gave  her  a wheel,  being  a symbol 
of  the  swiftness  with  which  she  is  carried  to 
revenge  wickedness. 


CHAPTER  XXVIIT. 


VERTUMNUS. 

YERTUMNUS  was  the  god  of  Spring ; an 
office  to  which  he  was  appointed  on  account  of 
the  changeableness  of  his  nature,  he  having 
the  power,  like  Proteus,  to  transform  himself 
into  any  kind  of  shape. 

The  most  known  of  his  adventures,  or  achiev- 


HEATHEN  GODSo 


156 

merits,  is  his  wooing  Pomona,  the  goddess  of 
orchards;  which  action  is  celebrated  by  Ovid. 

Pomona  was  fair  and  beautiful ; but  withal 
exceedingly  coy,  and  entirely  proof  against 
the  power  of  V enus. 

But  her  chaste  desires  and  inclinations  did 
not  secure  her  from  the  attacks  of  the  deities 
of  the  woods.  She  was  frequently  assailed  by 
Satyrs  and  Fauns  ; and  that  old  sleepy,  beast- 
ly god  Silenus  often  attempted  to  surprise  her. 

Among  her  admirers,  however,  Vertumnus 
was  the  most  importunate;  for  though  often 
rejected  with  scorn,  he  still  renewed  his  ad- 
dresses. 

In  order  to  get  a sight  of  her,  he  w^ould  some- 
times disguise  himself  as  a reaper,  carrying 
a load  of  grain,  and  sweating  under  his  bur- 
then ; and  carrying  a scythe  at  his  back ; his 
sun  burnt  face  being  partly  covered  w ith  a tur- 
ban made  of  haybands. 

At  other  times  he  would  appear  as  a hind, 
with  an  ox  goad  in  his  hand ; then  as  a vine 
dresser ; another  time  as  a laborer  gathering 
apples  in  the  orchard  of  Pomona.  All  these 
changes  he  underwent,  that  he  might  have  the 
pleasure  of  beholding  the  goddess.  But 

At  other  times  he  would  appear  before  her 
in  the  striking  garb  of  a soldier,  in  order  to  at- 
tract her  attention.  He  would  assume  the  ap- 
pearance of  an  angler ; and  was  continually 
varying  his  dress  and  manner,  in  order  to  see, 
or  be  seen  by  her. 

He  at  length  assumed  the  form  of  an  old 


hp.athen  gods. 


157 


maD,  and  entered  into  familiar  conversation 
:^vith  the  goddess,  all  which  tended  to  inflame 
tier  with  a passion  for  Vertumiios.  He  set 
forth  all  his  various  perfections,  his  aifection, 
his  constancy  and  unchanging  attachment; 
and  his  fitness  to  become  her  spouse.  These 
arguments  were  accompanied  by  blandishments 
which  were  too  warm  for  the  appearance  he 
had  assumed.  They  betrayed  the  latent  ener- 
gies of  the  god.  He  appeared  suddenly  before 
her  ill  his  proper  form  and  glory,  and  the  god- 
dess being  inspired  with  a mutual  flame,  his 
wishes  were  crowned  with  success. 


OHAPTER  XXIX. 

POMONA. 

POMONA  is  the  goddess,  the  guardian,  and 
the  president,  not  of  the  apples  only,  but  also 
of  ail  fruits,  and  product  of  trees  and  plants. 
She  had  a proper  priest,  who  was  called  Fla- 
meo  Ponioiiaiis. 

When  Pomona  was  dressing  her  gardens  and 
orchards  according  to  herciistom,  with  remark- 
able care  and  diligent  industry  ; and  was  whol- 
ly employed  in  watering  and  securing  the 
roots,  and  lopping  oif  ail  the  luxuriancy  of  the 
overgrown  bushes;  Vertumnus,  a principal 
god  among  the  Romans,  who  could  put  on  what 
forms  he  pleased,  being  charmed  with  her  beau- 
ty, counterfeited  the  likeness  of  an  old  womaUj^ 


158 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


went  into  her  garden,  admired  the  apples,  com- 
mended and  saluted  the  virgin.  Then  taking 
an  occasion  from  those  things,  which  he  saw, 
at  last,  he  turned  his  discourse  to  marriage; 
assuring  her,  that  there  would  not  be  wanting 
several  of  the  gods  themselves,  who  would  pro- 
nounce themselves  very  happy  in  such  a wife. 
Observe,  says  he,  the  trees  creeping  up  this 
wall,  striving  with  their  rich  plumbs  and  fine 
apples,  which  shall  excel  the  other ; and  yet, 
unless  these  were  joined  with  Pales,  by  which 
they  are  supported,  as  by  husbands,  they  would 
continue  barren,  and  bring  forth  nothing  but 
leaves.  She  was  not  moved  wiih  these  speech- 
es, till  Vertumnus  changed  himself  into  a young 
man,  and  then  she  also  began  to  feel  the  force 
and  power  of  love,  and  yielded  to  his  desires. 
The  meaning  of  this  fable  is,  that  Vertumnus 
is  an  emblem  of  the  year,  which  turns  itself  in- 
to a variety  of  shapes,  according  to  the  multi- 
tude of  its  productions  in  different  seasons,  but 
is  at  no  time  more  graceful  than  in  the  season 
of  ripe  fruits,  that  is,  when  Pomona  submits  to 
his  embraces. 

—040- 

chapter  XXX. 

FLORA. 

FLORA  is  the  goddess  and  president  of 
J9owers ; and  therefore  was  adorned  and  dress- 
ed with  them. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


159 


Among  the  Romans,  she  was  esteemed  a 
goddess,  but  in  reality  was  a very  famous  strum  » 
pet,  who,  by  her  abominable  trade,  heaped  up 
great  treasures,  and  made  the  Roman  people 
her  heir. 

Particularly,  she  left  a certain  sum  of  money, 
out  of  the  yearly  interest  of  which  her  birth 
day  was  celebrated,  by  exhibiting  plays,  which, 
in  honor  of  her,  they  called  Florales,  or  Flora- 
lia.  But  because  this  appeared  scandalous 
and  profane  to  the  senate,  they  resolved  to  cov- 
er that  wickedness  by  a specious  title  ; and  ap- 
pointed, that  Flora  should  be  worshipped  as  a 
goddess,  who  might  preside  over  the  flowers  ; 
and  that  she  should  be  appeased  by  divine  wor- 
ship, that  the  plants  and  trees  might  flourish. 

Her  image  was  exposed  in  the  temple  of 
Castor  and  Pollux,  dressed  in  a close  coat, 
holding  in  her  right  hand  the  flowers  of  beans 
and  peas ; for,  while  the  Floralia  w^ere  per- 
formed, the  ASdiles  scattered  beans,  peas,  and 
other  pulse  among  the  people.  These  games 
were  proclaimed,  and  begun  »by  sound  of  trum- 
pet ; and  came  at  last  to  that  excess  of  inde- 
cency, that  persons  appeared  naked.  But 
when  Cato,  that  severe  Censor  of  manners, 
came  to  be  a spectator,  the  Romans  had  so 
much  remains  of  modesty  left,  that  they  w ould 
not  proceed,  till  a person  of  his  probity  and 
virtue  had  made  his  exit. 


160 


HEATHEN  GODS^ 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

PALES. 

PALES  is  the  goddess  of  the  shepherds  and 
pastures,  and  by  some  called  Magna  Mater 
and  V esta.  They  offered  to  her  milk  and  wa- 
fers of  millet  for  a good  growth  of  pasture.  Her 
feasis  Palilia  were  celebrated  upon  the  eleventh 
or  twelfth  of  the  Kalends  of  May,  on  which 
day  Romulus  founded  the  city  of  Rome. 

The  shepherds,  in  the  fields,  strictly  ob- 
served her  festivals,  that  she  might  drive  away 
the  wolves,  and  diseases  from  the  cattle.  They 
^ere  performed  with  various  rites ; for  they 
danced  about  and  leaped  over  burning  heaps 
of  straw  and  chaff,  disposed  in  a particular  or- 
der and  distance ; and  then  purified  the  sheep, 
and  other  cattle  with  fume  of  rosemary,  laurel 
and  sulphur. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


FERONIA. 

FERONIA  is  the  goddess  of  the  woods ; 
and  it  is  said,  that  she  had  a grove  sacred  to 
her  under  the  mountain  Soracte  : And  that  this 
grove,  being  set  on  fire,  when  the  neighbors  re- 
solved to  remove  the  ^mage  of  Feronia  thence, 
became  green  again.  Strabo  reports,  that 
those  who  were  inspired  by  the  power  of  Fero- 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


161 


nia,  used  to  walk  upon  burning  coals  with  tbeii* 
bare  feet  unhurt.  Yet  many  believed,  that, 
by  Feronia  was  meant  only  that  virtue  by 
which  flowers  and  fruits  are  produced.  Ser- 
vants were  made  free  in  her  temple,  and  re- 
ceived the  cap  which  was  the  badge  of  their 
liberty,  for  which  they  worshipped  her  as  their 
protectress. 


CHAPTER  XXXllI. 


SYLVANVS. 

SYLVANUS,  as  a deity  of  the  woods,  is 
placed  next  to  Pan,  an  old  man,  with  goat’s 
feet,  a human  face,  and  of  little  stature,  hold- 
ing cypress  in  his  hand  stretched  out.  He  is 
called  Syivanus,  because  he  presides  over  the 
woods.  He  admired  the  boy  Cyparissus,  who 
had  a very  tame  deer,  and  in  great  esteem. 
When  Syivanus  had  unawares  killed  this  deer, 
and  the  boy  died  for  grief,  Syivanus  changed 
him  into  a cypress  tree,  and  carried  a branch 
of  it  always  in  his  hand  in  memory  of  the  boy. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV, 

SILENUS. 

SILENUS  follow  s,  an  old  fellow,  Avith  a flat 
nose,  bald  head,  large  and  Avide  earsj  and  a 


162 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


small,  flat,  gorbellied  body : He  sits  upon  a sad- 
dle backed  ass ; but,  when  he  walks  on  foot, 
he  leans  upon  a staff.  He  was  Bacchus's  fos- 
ter father,  master,  and  continual  companion, 
and  consequently  almost  always  drunk.  The 
cup,  which  he  and  Bacchus  used,  was  called 
Cantharus,  and  the  staff,  by  which  he  support- 
ed his  staggering  steps,  was  named  Ferula. 
The  Satyrs  attended  and  esteemed  Silenus  as 
a parent,  and  when  they  grew  old,  were  called 
Sileni:  And  as  to  his  ass,  they  feign,  that  he 
was  translated  into  heaven,  and  placed  among 
the  stars ; because  in  the  war  against  the  Gi- 
ants, Silenus,  riding  on  him,  did  considerable 
service  to  Jupiter. 

CHAPTER  XXXV. 

SATYRS. 

THE  Satyrs  are  described,  having  their 
heads  armed  with  horns,  goats  feet  and  legs, 
crooked  hands,  their  bodies  rough  with  hairs, 
and  tails  not  much  shorter  than  horses. 

There  is  no  animal  in  nature  more  fallacious 
and  libidinous  than  these  gods  ; for  their  very 
name  shews  the  filthiness  of  their  disposition  : 
And  Pausanias  proves  this  by  an  instance  of 
some  mariners,  who,  being  driven  by  a storm 
upon  a desert  island,  and  seeing  themselves 
surrounded  by  a flock  of  Satyrs,  betook  them- 
selves again  to  their  ships  ^ but  the  Satyrs 


Ui 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


having  left  the  men,  rushed  upon  the  women, 
and  committed  all  manner  of  rudeness  upon 
their  bodies. 

“—040»-- 

CHAPTER  XXXVI. 

FAUNS. 

THE  Fauns  are  joined  to  the  Satyrs,  and 
differ  almost  in  name  only,  being  not  unlike 
them  in  appearance ; for  they  are  both  horned 
and  hoofed,  and  crowned  with  branches  of  the 
pine.  They  were  esteemed  rural  gods  by  the 
Boors,  who,  through  fear  of  their  power,  be- 
cause they  were  armed  with  horns  and  nails, 
and  painted  in  a terrible  shape,  worshipped 
them  v/ith  profound  veneration. 

Faunus,  or  Fatuellus,  was  the  son  of  Picus, 
king  of  the  Latins. 

He  married  his  own  sister  Fauna,  or  Fatua, 
and  consecrated  her  a priestess,  after  which  she 
got  the  gift  of  prophecy.  There  is  a report  al- 
so, that  this  Faunus  w as  the  father  and  prince 
of  the  other  Fauni  and  SatjTs.  His  name  was 
given  him  from  prophesying ; w hence  also  we 
call  men,  speaking  rashly  and  inconsiderately^ 
Fatui;  because  they,  who  prophecy,  used  to 
speak  with  another’s  mind,  what  things  them- 
selves  do  not  understand. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


165 


CHAPTER  XXXVII. 

PRIAPUS. 

PRI APUS  is  a shameless  and  obscene  dei- 
ty, and  therefore  the  painter,  out  of  modesty, 
left  the  picture  unfinished.  He  v^as  the  son  of 
Venus  and  Bacchus,  born  at  Lampsacus,  where 
his  mother  hating  his  deformity,  and  the  enor- 
mous disproportion  of  his  members,  rejected 
him.  Yet  he  was  so  agreeable  to  the  women 
of  that  place,  that  he  w as  banished  from  the 
city  by  their  husbands,  until,  by  the  command 
of  the  oracle,  he  was  recalled,  and  made  god 
of  the  gardens  ; and  therefore  crowned  with 
herbs. 

He  carries  a sickle  in  his  hand,  to  cut  off 
from  the  trees  all  superfluous  boughs,  and  to 
drive  away  thieves,  beasts,  and  mischievous 
birds. 

They  say,  that  his  deformity  was  occasioned 
hence,  that  Juno  perceit^ing  Venus  pregnant, 
and  being  inflamed  with  jealousy,  under  pre- 
tence of  assisting  her  in  labor,  spitefully  mis- 
used her,  so  that  the  child  was  deformed,  from 
w hich  he  took  his  name. 


166 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIll. 

ARISTJEVS. 

ARISTuEUS  was  begotten  of  Apollo  and 
Cyrene,  educated  by  the  Nymphs,  and  taught 
by  them  the  art  of  making  oil,  honey  and 
cheese. 

He  passionately  loved  Eurydice,  the  wife  of 
Orpheus,  and  pushed  her  into  a wood,  Avhere 
she  was  so  stung  by  a serpent,  that  she  forth- 
with died.  The  nymphs,  from  a hatred  of  the 
fact,  revenged  her  death  by  the  destruction  of 
his  bees. 

When  Aristaeus  deplored  so  great  a loss,  hav- 
ing begged  the  assistance  of  his  mother,  he 
learned  from  the  oracle,  that  Eurydice  was  to 
be  appeased  by  sacrifices : Which,  whilst  he 
performed,  and  offered  four  bulls  and  as  many 
heifers,  it  is  reported,  that  a great  swarm  of 
bees  suddenly  burst  forth  from  the  carcases  of 
the  bulls,  and  that  he  thus  made  up  his  loss. 

— • 

CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

TERMINUS. 

TERMINUS  is  also  a god,  and  held  in  great 
honor  at  Rome:  He  is  so  called,  because  the 
boundaries  of  lands  are  under  his  protection. 
The  statue  of  this  god  was  either  a square 
&tone,  or  a log  of  wood  planed,  which  they  us- 


heathen  gods. 


167 


iially  perfumed  with  ointment,  and  crowned 
with  garlands.  And  indeed  the  land  marks 
Avere  so  sacred,  that  whoever  dared  to  mqve, 
plough  up,  or  transfer  them  elsewhere,  his  head 
became  devoted  to  the  Dii  Terrninales,  and 
every  one  had  a power  of  killing  him.  They 
did  not  sacrifice  animals  to  these  siones,  be- 
cause it  w as  unlawful  to  stain  them  with  the 
blood  of  victims  ; but,  upon  the  last  day  of  the 
year,  they  offered  to  them  wafers  of  bread,  und 
the  first  fruits  of  the  com  ; and  those  festivals 
were  called  Terminalia. 


CHAPTER  XL. 


NYMPHS. 

NOT  far -from  the  gardens  of  Pomona,  one 
may  see  neat,  pretty,  beautiful  and  charming 
virgins  almost  innumerable:  Of  whom  some 
run  about  the  wmods,  and  hide  themselves  in 
the  trunks  of  the  aged  oaks  ; some  plunge  them- 
selves into  the  fountains,  and  some  swim  in 
the  rivers.  They  are  called  by  one  common 
name  Nymphs,  because  they  aiwaj^s  look 
young,  or,  because  they  shine  with  the  lustre 
of  beauty.  Yet  ail  have  their  proper  appeiia- 
tions,  which  they  derive  either  from  the  places 
wherein  they  live,  or  the  offices,  which  they 
perform;  they  are  especially  distributed  into 
three  classes,  Celestial,  Terrestrial,  and  Marine 
Nymphs. 


168 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


The  Celestial  Nymphs  were  those  souls  and 
intellects,  who  guided  the  spheres  of  heaven^ 
and  dispensed  the  starry  iniuences  on  the  ear- 
thly bodies. 

Of  the  Terrestrial  Nymphs,  some  preside 
over  the  woods,  and  were  called  Dryades,  be- 
cause they  lived  in  the  oaks : Others  were  na- 
med Hamadryades,  because  they  were  thought 
to  have  been  born  together  with  the  oaks,  and 
also  to  have  died  with  them. 

The  ancients  believed,  that  whatever  w as 
born  with  the  oaks,  was  sent  from  heaven,  and 
divine;  and  the  Druids,  priests  of  the  Gauls, 
esteemed  nothing  more  divine,  and  more  sac- 
red, than  the  excrescence  sticking  to  the  oak. 

Others  of  the  Terrestrial  Nymphs  are  cal- 
led Oreades,  or  Orestiades,  because  they  pre- 
sided over  the  mountains.  The  Napeeae  had 
the  care  of  th%«forests  and  valleys  : The  Le- 
moniades  w ere  set  over  the  meadows  and  fields  ; 
and  the  Melits  had  their  name  from  the  ash 
trees  sacred  to  them ; and  these  w^ere  supposed 
to  be  the  mothers  of  those  children,  who  were 
accidentally  born  under  a tree,  or  exposed 
there. 

The  Marine  Nymphs  were  either  those, 
which  preside  over  the  seas,  and  were  called 
Nereides  or  NeHnse,  from  Nereus  and  Doris, 
their  parents  ; or  those  over  the  fountains  cal- 
led N aides,  or  Naiades;  or  else  inhabit  the  ri- 
vers, named  Ffuviaks,  or  Potamides  ; or,  last- 
ly, those  who  preside  over  the  lakes  and  ponds, 
called  Limnades. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


169 

Nymphs  were  attributed  to  almost  all  the 
gods  for  their  service:  Jupiter  had  two,  Nep- 
tune fifty,  Phoebus  his  Muses,  Bacchus  innum- 
erable, Diana  her  huntresses,  Thetis  the  Nerei- 
des, and  Juno  fourteen  attending  her. 

Arethusa  was  one  of  Diana’s  nymphs,  not 
less  chaste  than  beautiful.  When  she  was  bath- 
ing herself  in  a crystal  river,  the  pleasantness 
of  the  place  inviting  her,  Alpheus,  the  god  of 
the  river,  having  assumed  a human  shape,  arose 
out  of  the  water;  first  saluted  her  with  kind 
words,  then  approached  her;  but  she  flies,  and 
he  follows : And  when  he  had  almost  overtak- 
en her,  by  the  assistance  of  Diana  she  dissol- 
ved into  a fountain.  Alpheus  then  resumed 
his  former  shape,  and  endeavored  to  mix  his 
own  with  her  streams,  but  in  vain ; for  Arethu- 
sa ever  continues  her  flight,  and  through  a sub- 
terranean passage  runs  into  Sicily.  Alpheus 
pursues  her  thither,  and  at  last  unites  and  mar- 
ries his  own  with  her  waters  in  that  island. 

Echo  was  formerly  a nymph,  though  now  on- 
ly a voice;  and  even  when  she  was  alive,  she 
could  only  repeat  the  last  of  many  words.  This 
she  suffered  as  a punishment  for  her  talkative- 
ness : For  when  Juno  came  down  from  heaven 
to  discover  Jupiter’s  intrigues  with  the  nymphs. 
Echo  detained  her  with  his  tedious  discourses, 
that  the  Nymphs  might  have  an  opportunity  of 
flying  and  hiding  themselves. 

This  Echo  by  chance  saw  Narcissus  ramb- 
ling through  the  woods,  admired,  courted,  fol- 
lowed and  embraced  the  proud  youth  in  her 

p. 


170 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


arms : But  he  broke  from  her  embraces,  and 
fled  out  of  her  sight ; whereupon  the  despised 
nymph  hid  herself  in  the  woods,  and  pined 
way  with  grief. 

Narcissus,  for  a punishment  of  his  cruelty, 
suffered  as  hard  a fate ; for  though  he  would 
neither  love  others,  nor  be  loved  by  them;  yet 
he  perished  by  love  of  himself.  By  thirst  he 
is  led  to  a fountain,  whose  waters  w ere  clear 
and  silver  colored:  As  soon  as  he  stooped 
down,  to  quench  his  thirst,  having  seen  his  own 
image,  he  stayed  gazing  at  it,  and  passionately 
loves  himself.  At  last,  being  consumed  with 
love,  by  the  favor  of  the  gods,  he  was  turned 
into  a flower  of  his  own  name.  The  common 
offerings  made  to  the  Nymphs,  were  milk,  oil, 
honey  and  wine. 


CHAPTER  XLI. 


RURAL  GODS  AND  GODDESSES. 

THE  images  of  the  inferior  rural  gods  and 
goddesses  are  smaller,  than  that  tliey  can  be 
discerned  by  the  eyes ; wherefore  1 will  only 
recount  their  names. 

Rusina,  who  had  the  care  of  the  country. 

OoLLir^A,  reigned  over  the  hills. 

Valeonia,  holds  her  empire  in  the  valleys. 

Bippona,  presides  over  the  horses  and  sta» 
bles. 

Bubona,  protects  the  oxen. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


171 


Seia,  takes  care  of  the  seed,  whilst  it  lies 
buried  in  the  earth.  She  is  likewise  called 
Segetia,  when  the  green  blade  appears  .above 
ground. 

Runcina,  is  the  goddess  of  weeding, 

OccATOR,  the  god  of  harrowing. 

Sator,  of  sowing, 

Sarritor,  of  raking. 

The  god  Robtgus  was  worshipped,  that  he 
might  drive  away  the  rpiidew  from  the  corn. 

Stercutius,  or  Ster^uiiiInub,  who  first  in- 
vented the  art  of  dunging  the  ground. 

Nodosds,  is  set  over  the  knots  and  joints  of 
the  stalks. 

V oLTjsiA,  is  goddess  of  the  folds  of  the  biadeSj 
and  pods  of  the  corn. 

Patelina,  when  the  ear  breaks  out  of  the 
pod. 

Flora,  when  the  ear  blossoms. 

Lactura,  or  Lactucina,  when  it  begins  to 
have  milk. 

Matura,  when  it  comes  to  maturity. 

Hastilina,  when  the  crops  were  proportion- 
ed to  the  seed  sown. 

Tutelina,  hath  the  tutilage  of  the  corn  ga- 
thered. 

PiLUMNus,  invented  the  art  of  baking  the 
corn. 

Mellona,  found  out  the  method  of  making 
honey. 

Fornax,  was  esteemed  a goddess,  because, 
before  the  use  of  wheat,  bread  corn,  was  parch- 
ed in  a furnace. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


173 


CHAPTER  XLII. 

THE  MUSES. 

THERE  are  nine  Muses,  who  are  represent* 
ed  as  virgins  crowned  with  palms.  They  seem 
to  smile  pleasantly,  shining  in  a becoming 
dress,  and  handsomely  sitting  together  in  the 
shade  of  a laurel  arbor.  Some  of  them  play  on 
the  harp,  some  on  the  cittern,  some  upon  the 
pipe,  some  upon  the  cymbal,  and  some  harmo- 
niously use  their  voice  and  instruments  at 
once ; with  united  minds,  tongues  and  fingers^ 
making  a most  agreeable  concert. 

The  Muses  are  the  mistresses  of  all  the  sci- 
ences, the  presidents  of  the  musicians  and  po- 
ets, and  the  governesses  of  the  feasts  and  so- 
lemnities of  the  gods. 

Jupiter  begat  them  of  the  nymph  Mnemo- 
syne, who  afterwards  brought  them  forth  upon 
the  Pierian  mountain. 

They  had  names  derived  from  their  proper 
accomplishments  of  mind  or  body. 

The  first  Calliope,  so  called  from  the  sweet- 
ness of  her  voice,  presides  over  rhetoric,  and 
is  esteemed  the  most  excellent  of  all  the  nine. 

The  second  Clio,  from  the  glory  and  famous- 
ness of  the  things  that  she  records. 

The  third  Erato,  because  she  sings  of  am- 
ours, or  because  learned  men  are  loved  and 
praised  by  others : She  invented  poetry. 

The  fourth  Thalia,  from  the  gaiety  and 

p 2 


i74 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


pleasantry  ©f  her  songs,  who  invented  comedy 
and  geometry. 

The  fifth  Melpomene,  from  singing,  and  she 
presides  over  tragedy. 

The  sixth  Terpsichore,  because  she  delights 
in  dancing. 

The  seventh  Euterpe,  for  the  sweetness  of 
her  singing : Logic  was  her  invention. 

The  eighth  Polyhymnia,  because  she  excels 
in  memory,  and  therefore  presides  over  history. 

The  ninth  Urania,  so  called  from  heaven,  or 
the  singing  of  heavenly  things ; or  because, 
through  her  assistance,  men  are  raised  to  the 
heavens  by  praises ; or  that,  by  the  favor  of 
the  sciences,  they  become  conversant  in  the 
contemplation  of  celestial  things. 


CHAPTER  XLIll. 


GENIUS,  OR  GENII. 

BY  Genius,  is  understood  that  spirit  of  na- 
ture, which  begets  all  things ; or  that  which  is 
begotten  with  us ; or  lastly,  that  which  pro- 
tects and  defends  us  through  the  whole  course 
of  life.  In  honor  of  this  god,  the  marriage  bed 
and  birth  day  were  called  Genial ; and  those 
who  live  merrily  or  delicately,  are  said  to  live 
a genial  life,  or  to  indulge  their  genius.  The 
Greeks  called  them  Demons,  either  from  the 
terror  and  fear  created  in  them  to  whom  they 
appear  5 or  because,  being  wise  and  knowing, 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


175 


they  were  consulted  as  oracles.  Some  think, 
that  illustrious  men,  in  reward  of  their  virtue, 
after  death  become  demons,  being  a middle 
kind  between  gods  and  men.  The  Genius  bore 
frequently  the  figure  of  a serpent,  sometimes 
also  of  a boy,  girl,  or  old  man,  crowned  with 
the  leaves  of  the  plane  tree,  because  that  tree 
was  sacred  to  them.  They  offered  wine,  flow- 
ers, incense,  meal  sprinkled  with  salt,  and 
sometimes  a swine  chiefly  on  a birth  day ; 
though  Censorinus  says,  that  they  used  not  to 
sacrifice  with  blood  and  slaughter  on  that  day 
on  which  themselves  received  life. 

The  Genii  were  continual  and  watchful 
guardians,  overseers,  and  keepers  of  the  men, 
as  the  Junos  were  of  the  women,  from  the  cra- 
dle to  the  grave  ; carried  their  prayers  to  the 
gods,  and  interceded  for  them.  The  ancients 
assigned  to  every  person  two,  a good  or  white, 
and  an  evil  or  black  Genius,  one  of  which  in- 
cites to  virtue,  the  other  promotes  to  vice.  Not 
only  men  and  women,  but  also  countries,  cities, 
houses,  doors,  stables  and  hearths,  had  their 
peculiar  Genii. 


CHAPTER  XLIV. 

THE  PENATES. 

THE  Penates,  so  called  from  Penns,  were 
gods  reigning  in  the  inward  parts  of  heaven^ 
and  entirely  governed  mankind  by  their  reason, 


176 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


heat  and  spirit ; so  that  we  cannot  live,  or  use 
our  understanding  without  them.  There  were 
three  orders  of.  them  ; some  had  the  care  of 
provinces  and  kingdoms,  and  these  were  called 
absolutely  Penates;  others  protected  particu- 
lar cities,  and  were  called  country  gods;  the 
small  gods  presided  over  families. 

CHAPTER  XLV. 

THE  LARES. 

THE  Lares  were  children  born  from  the 
stolen  embrace  of  Mercury  and  Lara.  For 
when  she  had  discovered  the  amours  of  Jupi- 
ter, he  being  extremely  enraged,  cut  out  her 
tongue,  and  banished  her  to  the  Stygian  Lake. 
While  Mercury  conducted  her  thither,  he  rav- 
ished her  upon  the  road ; and  so  growing  big 
bellied,  she  brought  forth  twins,  named  the 
Lares,  who  were  appointed  domestic  gods,  and 
accordingly  presided  over  houses,  streets,  and 
ways,  where  also  they  were  worshipped.  In 
the  plays  instituted  in  honor  of  them,  called 
Compitalia,  images  of  men  and  women,  made 
of  wool,  were  hung  in  the  streets,  and  as  many 
balls  of  the  same  matter,  as  there  were  servants 
in  the  family,  and  so  many  complete  images, 
as  there  were  children.  This  was  done,  that 
these  deities,  being  contented  with  the  woolen 
images,  might  spare  those  children  and  serv- 
ants alive.  The  Roman  youth;  who  wore  a 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


177 


golden  ornament,  called  Bulla,  till  the  four- 
teenth year  of  their  age,  used  then  to  conse-* 
crate  and  hang  it  up  to  the  Lares.  These 
gods  were  sometimes  clothed  in  the  skins,  and 
' sometimes  fashioned  in  the  shape  of  dogs, 
whence  that  creature  was  consecrated  to  them. 
The  place  sacred  to  them  was  called  Latarium, 
where  their  worshippers  offered  the  first  fruits, 
wine  and  incense,  and  their  images  were  adorn- 
ed with  chaplets  and  garlands. 


CHAPTER  XLVI. 

GODS  AND  GODDESSES  PRESIDING 
OVER  INFANTS,  &c. 

THE  gods  and  goddesses  presiding  over  in- 
fants and  adults,  women  pregnant  and  bringing 
forth,  also  marriages  and  funerals,  were  so  ma- 
ny, that  it  would  be  tedious  to  enumerate  them 
all.  Juno  and  Luna  were  the  principal. 


CHAPTER  XLiVII. 

TUTELAR  GODS. 

THEY  ascribed  particular  gods  to  particular 
parts  of  the  body.  The  head  was  sacred  to 
Jupiter,  the  breast  to  Neptune,  the  waist  to 
Mars,  the  forehead  to  Genius,  the  eye  brows  to 
Juno,  the  eyes  to  Cupid,  the  ears  to  Memoria, 


178  HEATHEN  GODS. 

the  right  hand  to  Fides,  the  back  and  hinder 
parts  to  Pluto,  the  reins  to  Venus,  the  feet  to 
Mercury,  the  knees  to  Misericordia,  the  ancles 
and  soles  of  the  feet  to  Thetis,  and  the  fingers 
to  Minerva. 


CHAPTER  XLVIII. 

JASON. 

JASON  was  the  son  of  ^son,  king  of  Thes- 
saly,, and  Alcimede.  After  the  death  of  his 
father,  which  happened  whilst  he  was  yet  an 
infant,  his  uncle  Pelias  administered  the  gov- 
ernment. When  the  prince  grew  up,  and  de- 
manded of  his  uncle  his  hereditary  kingdom, 
he  was  by  him  persuaded,  and  sent  upon  the 
Colchian  expedition  : under  pretence,  indeed, 
of  carrying  off  the  golden  fleece  thence,  but, 
truly,  that  he  might  die  by  the  danger  and  la- 
bor of  the  journey. 

This  golden  fleece  was  the  skin  of  a ram, 
which  some  say  was  white,  others  purple,  giv- 
en to  Phryxus,  son  of  Athamus,  by  his  mother 
Nephele.  Phryxus  and  his  sister  Helle,  fear- 
ing the  snares  of  their  stepmother  Ino,  that  they 
might  secure  their  safety  by  flight,  got  on  this 
ram;  but,  while  they  swam  over  the  narrowest 
part  of  Pontus,  Helle,  affrighted  at  the  tossing 
of  the  waves,  fell  down  into  the  sea,  which  from 
her  was  called  the  Hellespont.  But  Phryxus, 
being  carried  safe  over,  went  to  .^ta,  king  of 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


179 


Colchis,  a country  of  Asia,  near  Pontus ; by 
whom  being  kindly  received,  he  there  sacrific- 
ed to  Jupiter,  or  Mars,  his  ram,  which  after- 
wards was  placed  among  the  constellations ; 
Only  his  hide,  or  fleece,  was  hung  up  in  a grove 
sacred  to  Mars, 

It  was  called  the  golden  fleece,  because  it 
was  of  the  color  of  that  metal;  and  bulls, 
breathed  fire  from  their  nostrils,  also  a vast  and 
watchful  dragon  guarded  it,  as  a sacred  thing, 
divine  pledge,  and  fatal  relic. 

Jason  brought  away  that  fleece : For  being 
inflamed  with  a desire  of  praise,  he  went  on 
board  the  ship  Argo,  attended  by  forty  nine 
very  choice  and  noble  companions,  called  Ar- 
gonauts from  the  ship. 

In  his  voyage  he  visited  Hypsiphile,  queen 
of  Lemnos,  who,  entertaining  him  at  table  and 
in  bed,  conceived  and  brought  forth  twins  by 
him : Then  having  undergone  a tedious  course, 
and  many  dangers,  he  at  length  arrived  at  Col- 
chis, and  demanded  the  golden  fleece  of  king 
Mia.  He  answered,  that  he  would  grant  it  on 
that  conditioil*  only,  that  first  he  would  tame, 
and  put  under  the  yoke,  the  fire  vomiting  and 
brazen  looted  bulls  ; that  he  would  kill  the 
rlragon,  and  sow  his  teeth  ; and  lastly,  destroy 
and  cut  down  with  the  sword,  the  crop  of  arm- 
ed soldiers  springing  up  from  that  seed.  Jason 
being  obliged  to  accept  the  hard  conditions, 
was  delivered  from  manifest  destruction  by  the 
assistance  of  Medea,  the  king’s  daughter,  who 
greatly  loved  him.  For,  observing  her  direc- 


180 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


tions,  he  overcame  the  bulls,  laid  the  dragon 
asleep,  carried  away  the  fleece,  and  fled  by 
night  with  Medea,  whom  he  afterwards  mar- 
ried. ^ta  pursued  them : But  Medea,  that 
she  might  stop  him,  tore  her  brother  Absyrtus, 
who  was  along  with  her,  in  pieces,  and  scatter- 
ed his  torn  limbs  on  the  road.  When  the  fath- 
er saw  them,  he  was  kept  from  pursuing  them, 
by  gathering  up  the  members  of  his  sou  : And 
so  Jason,  with  the  other  Argonauts,  returned 
into  his  native  country. 

It  is  reported,  that  Medea,  by  her  charms, 
restored  ^son,  Jason’s  father,  feeble  and  wast- 
ed with  old  age,  to  his  former  bloom  of  youth 
again;  but  that  contradicts  the  history  above 
related. 

Jason,  afterwards  hating  Medea,  divorced 
her,  and  married  Creusa,  daughter  of  Creon, 
king  of  Corinth.  Medea,  to  revenge  the  per- 
fidiousness of  her  husband,  first  murdered  the 
two  sons  begot  by  him  in  their  father’s  sight ; 
next  she  sent  fire  inclosed  in  a little  box  to 
Creusa,  as  a present ; which  having  opened, 
herself,  together  with  the  whole  court,  w^as 
burnt : And  then  the  sorceress  flew  by  magic 
art  to  Athens.  Some  say,  that  she  was  again 
reconciled  to  Jason, 


HEATHEN  GODS* 


181 


CHAPTER  XLIX. 

THESEUS. 

THESEUS  was  the  son  of  ^geus,  king  of 
Athens,  and  ^thra.  Minos,  king  of  Crete, 
made  war  against  ^geus,  because  the  Athe- 
nians had  dishonorably  and  barbarously  killed 
his  son,  who  had  carried  away  from  them  all 
the  prizes  in  the  games.  When  he  had  van- 
quished the  Athenians,  he  imposed  this  very- 
severe  condition,  that  yearly  seven  youths,  of 
the  first  quality,  should  be  sent  into  Crete,  to 
be  devoured  by  the  Minotaur.  The  fourth 
year  Theseus  was  chosen  by  lot,  which  afflict- 
ed his  father  ^Egeus  wdth  extreme  grief. 
Therefore  Theseus  went  on  board  a ship,  fitted 
out  with  black  sails  and  tackle ; being  desired 
by  his  father,  that,  if  by  any  propitious  deity  he^ 
escaped  the  dangers,  when  he  returned  safe  in- 
to his  own  country  again,  he  should  change 
his  black  sails  into  white  ; by  which  signal  his 
father  being  assured  of  his  safety,  might  anti- 
cipate his  happiness  before  he  saw  him.  The 
event  happened  fortunate  indeed  to  Theseus, 
but  very  fatal  to  his  father.  For  as  soon  as 
the  young  prince  came  to  Crete,  being  shut  up 
in  the  labyrinth,  he  slew  the  Minotaur,  and  es- 
caped out  of  that  inextricable  prison  by  the 
help  of  Ariadne ; which  being  done,  he  return- 
ed to  Athens  in  the  same  mournful  shij),  quite 
forgetful  of  his  father’s  command.  Therefor^ 
\ his  father,  spying  the  ship  from  a watch  tower,^ 


iS2  HEATHIN  GODS. 

returning  with  black  sails,  and  thinking  that 
his  son  had  perished,  threw  himself  headlong 
into  the  sea,  which  afterwards,  from  his  name, 
was  called  the  iEgean  Sea. 

Ariadne  was  the  daughter  of  Minos,  king  of 
Crete,  who,  being  charmed  with  the  love  of 
Theseus,  delivered  him  out  of  the  labyrinth  by 
the  direction  of  a thread.  She  followed  him  iu 
his  return  to  the  island  Naxus,  where  he  per- 
fidiously and  ungratefully  left  her.  But  Bac- 
chus, pitying  the  forsaken  lady,  married  her, 
and  gave  her  a crown  illuminated  with  seven 
stars,  which  he  bad  before  received  from  V e- 
nus ; and  this  crow  n,  after  the  death  of  Ariad- 
ne, was  placed  among  the  constellations. 

Theseus  performed  many  other  valorous  ex- 
ploits ; he  overcame  the  Centaurs ; vanquish- 
ed the  Thebans ; and  defeated  the  Amazons, 
who  were  women  animated  with  the  souls  and 
bravery  of  men ; a military  race,  inhabiting 
that  part  of  Scythia,  which  is  washed  by  the 
river  Tanais.  They  lived  in  common,  and 
passed  their  lives  together  without  the  society 
of  men.  They  admitted,  indeed,  the  embraces 
of  the  neighboring  men,  and  thus  propagated 
their  race  ; but  they  killed  the  male  offspring, 
and  brought  up  the  girls  only,  whose  right 
breast  tbe}^  cut  off,  that  they  might  more  con- 
veniently use  the  right  arm  in  shooting  arrows, 
and  brandishing  weapons  against  the  enemy. 

These  female  w arriors  possessed  a great  part 
of  Asia  by  their  frequent  excursions,  when 
HerQuks,  accompanied  with  Theseus,  subdued 


HEATHEN  BOBM.  183 

them,  and,  taking  their  queen  Hippolyte,  gave 
her  in  marriage  to  Theseus.  He  had  by  her  a 
son  Hyppolytus,  very  beautiful,  much  given  to 
hunting,  and  a remarkable  lover  of  chastity. 
His  step-mother,  his  father  being  absent,  solic- 
ited him  to  lewdness ; but  suffering  a repulse, 
she  afterwards  accused  him  before  her  husband^ 
being  returned,  of  the  crime  of  adultery  offered 
to  her.  Theseus  gave  ear  to  his  wicked  wife, 
and  meditated  revenge  and  punishment  to  the 
son  ; which  he  perceiving,  hastened  his  flight 
in  a chariot.  While  he  fled,  his  horses  being 
frighted  by  sea  monsters,  he  was  thrown  out  of 
the  chariot,  and,  being  entangled  in  the  har- 
ness, was  dragged  through  the  thickets  of  a 
wood,  and  miserably  torn  to  pieces.  After- 
wards, at  the  request  of  Diana,  j^lsculapius  re- 
stored him  to  life  again : But  Phaedra,  pricked 
by  the  sting*  of  conscience,  hanged  herself. 

Theseus,  also  went  down  to  hell : For  it  had 
been  agreed  between  him  and  Pirithous,  his  in- 
timate friend,  that  they  should  not  marry  any 
woman  except  Jupiter’s  daughters  : As  there^ 
fore  Theseus  had  got  Helena,  his  daughter  by 
Leda,  and  no  other  remained  on  earth  for  Pir- 
ithous,  they  both  together  went  down  to  hell, 
with  an  intent  to  steal  Proserpina  from  her 
husband  Pluto.  Pirithous  was  torn  by  Cerbe- 
rus in  the  very  entry,  but  Theseus  came  alive 
into  the  palace  of  Pluto,  and  there  continued 
in  chains,  till  Hercules,  sent  thither  by  Eurist- 
heus,  delivered  him.  Theseus,  at  last,  finishf 
ed  his  illustrious  life  by  an  obscure  end. 


184 


HEATHEN  GOD®. 


CHAPTER  L. 

PER§EVS. 

PERSEUS  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Da- 
iiae,  daughter  of  Acrisius.  The  father,  having 
known  from  the  oracle,  that  he  should  be  kil- 
led by  his  grandchild,  shut  her  up  in  a very 
strong  tower,  that  no  man  might  come  to  her. 
But  nothing  is  impregnable  to  love  : For  Ju- 
piter, being  turned  into  a golden  shower,  de- 
scended through  the  tiles  into  the  bosom  of 
the  young  lady,  who  was  left  by  the  god  en- 
riched with  gold,  and  big  with  child. 

When  it  was  told  to  Acrisius,  that  his  daugh- 
ter had  brought  forth  a son,  he  ordered  the 
mother  and  infant  to  be  shut  up  in  a chest,  ami 
thrown  into  the  sea.  But  a certain  fisherman 
drew  them  out,  and  presented  them  to  king  Pi- 
Jumnus,  who  married  Danae,  and  educated  her 
son,  whom  he  called  Perseus. 

When  he  grew  up,  he  was  presented  by  Mer- 
cury w ith  an  adamantine  scythe  and  wings ; 
equipped  besides  with  Pluto’s  helmet,  and  Mi- 
nerva’s brazen  shield,  so  bright,  that  it  reflect- 
ed the  images  of  otyects,  like  a looking  glass. 

When  Andromeda,  the  daughter  of  Cephe- 
us,  king  of  ^Ethiopia,  for  the  pride  of  her  moth- 
er Cassiope,  who  preferred  herself  to  the  other 
Nymphs  in  point  of  beauty,  was  by  them  bound 
to  a rock,  and  exposed  to  a sea  monster,  he 
both  delivered  and  married  her.  Afterwards 


HEATHEN  6©I)S.  185 

tlie  mother,  daughter,  and  son  in  law,  were 
placed  among  the  constellations. 

In  his  next  expedition,  which  he  undertook 
against  the  Gorgons,  having  encountered  with 
Medusa,  their  princess,  formidable  with  snakes 
instead  of  hair ; and  seeing  the  image  of  her 
head  in  his  shield,  he  struck  it  off,  Pallas  di- 
recting his  hand,  which,  being  afterwards  fixed 
on  his  shield,  he  carried  away,  and,  at  the  sight 
of  it,  turned  many  into  stones. 

By  holding  out  the  same  head,  he  changed 
Atlas,  king  of  Mauritania,  into  a mountain  of 
his  own  name,  because  he  excluded  him  from 
the  laws  of  hospitality. 

When  Medusa’s  head  was  cut  otf,  the  horse 
Pegasus  sprang  from  the  blood,  which  tlowed 
from  the  wound  upon  the  earth.  He  was  so 
called  from  a Greek  word,  signifying  a fountain, 
because  they  supposed  him  born  near  the  foun- 
tains of  the  sea.  He  was  also  winged,  and  fly- 
ing up  into  the  mountain  Helicon,  he  struck  a 
rock  with  his  hoof,  and  opened  a fountain,  cal- 
led by  the  Greeks  Hippocrene,  that  is,  the 
Horse  Fountain ; and  by  the  Latins,  Cabal  fi- 
lms. But  afterwards,  while  he  drank  of  the 
Corinthian  Spring  Pyrene,  he  was  taken  by 
Bellerophon,  who,  at  that  time,  was  preparing 
an  expedition  against  the  Chimeera. 

Bellerophon  had  this  name  from  Bellerus,  a 
certain  king  of  Corinth,  whom  he  had  killed  i 
whereas,  formerly,  he  was  called  Hipponous, 
from  governing  horses  with  a bridle,  which  art 
he  is  said  first  to  have  taught 


Aeathen  (50DS. 


IB  6 

He  was  son  of  Glaucus,  king  of  Epbyra,  of 
equally  great  beauty  and  virtue.  When  Sthe- 
nobsea,  wife  of  Prsetus,  tempting  him  to  adulte- 
ry ; the  woman,  niad  at  the  repulse,  and  raging 
with  fury,  accused  the  innocent  stranger  to  her 
husband. 

However  Prsetus  was  unwilling  himself  to 
violate  the  laws  of  hospitality  with  the  blood 
of  Bellerophon  ; but  sent  him  into  Lycia,  to 
his  father  in  law  Jobates,  with  letters  to  that 
effect.  Jobates,  having  read  the  letters,  for  a 
certain  punishment  of  his  crime,  sent  him  to 
subdue  the  Solymi,  that  he  might  be  killed  in 
the  battle.  But,  when  he  had  easily  vanquish- 
ed them,  and  being  exposed  to  many  other 
dangerst  had  always  returned  conqueror;  at 
last  lie  was  sent  to  kill  the  Chimsera  ; which 
labor  he  undertook,  and  performed  with  great 
praise,  having  procured  the  horse  Pegasus,  by 
the  help  of  Neptune. 

Wherefore  Jobates,  admiring  the  bravery  of 
the  youth,  gave  him  one  of  his  daughters  in 
marriage,  with  a part  of  his  kingdom.  When 
Sthenobsea  heard  that,  she  procured  death  to 
herself. 

But  Bellerophon,  being  transported  with  so 
happy  success  of  things,  while  he  endeavors  to 
fiy  up  into  heaven  with  Pegasus,  being  struck 
by  Jupiter  with  madness,  fell  from  his  horse  in- 
to a held,  called  Aleius,  because  in  it  he  wan- 
dered blind  to  the  end  of  life  : But  Pegasus 
was  placed  among  the  stars. 

Some  say^  the  fable  of  the  Chimsera  took 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


18? 


rise  from  this.  There  was  a famous  pirate, 
whose  ship  had  a lion  painted  on  her  prow,  a 
goat  on  the  middle  part,  and  a dragon  on  the 
stern,  and  that  this  pirate  w^as  killed  by  Belle* 
roplioo* 

CHAPTER  L.I. 

PROMETHEUS. 

PROMETHEUS  was  the  son  of  lapetus, 
and  father  of  Deucalion.  He  is  said  to  have 
formed  man  out  of  clay,  and  with  so  great  suc- 
cess, that  Minerva,  admiring  his  skill,  frankly 
proffered,  that  she  would  procure  him  whatev- 
er he  should  want,  for  the  completing  of  his 
work,  of  all  things  which  are  in  heaven.  Pro- 
metheus answered,  that  he  could  not  tell,  what 
of  them  might  be  useful  to  him,  since  he  had 
never  seen  them  with  his  eyes. 

Therefore  being  carried  up  to  heaven,  by 
the  assistance  of  Minerva,  after  he  had  viewed 
ail  things,  at  last,  observing  that  the  heat  of 
the  sun  would  be  very  useful  for  animating  his 
men,  he  put  a stick  to  the  wheel  of  the  Sun’s 
chariot,  and  having  lighted  it,  carried  the  fire 
with  him  to  the  earth. 

Jupiter  resenting  this  theft  very  heinously, 
sent  Pandora  into  the  world  with  a box  full  of 
all  sorts  of  evils,  w^hich  she  should  give  to  Pro- 
metheus. He,  fearing  and  suspecting  what  it 
refused  the  present;  but  his  brother  Epi- 


1S8 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


metheus  was  not  so  cautious ; for  be  took  and 
opened  the  box,  and,  unawares,,  let  out  every 
kind  of  evils  amongst  men ; which,  when  he 
perceived,  he  immediately  shut  the  box,  and 
fortunately  kept  Hope  sticking  in  the  bottom. 
Jupiter  commanded  Mercury  to  bind  the  thief 
Prometheus  on  Mount  Caucasus,  sent  an  eagle, 
which  continually  gnawed  his  liver.  Y et  some 
say,  that  the  cause  of  this  ))unishment  was,  be- 
cause he  had  made  woman,  the  most  perni- 
cious of  all  creatures.  But  Prometheus,  hav- 
ing formerly  deserved  well  of  Jupiter,  was  af- 
terwards exempted  from  punishment. 

To  this  Nicander  adds  another  fable  ; that 
some  ungrateful  men,  after  receiving  the  tire, 
discovered  the  theft  to  Jupiter,  to  whom,  in- 
stead of  a reward,  he  gave  perpetual  youth. 
They  put  this  upon  an  ass,  that  it  might  be 
brought  to  the  earth.  But  he,  being  thirsty, 
and  coming  to  a fountain  to  drink,  was  hinder- 
ed by  a serpent;  however,  at  last  he  obtained 
leave,  having  promised,  that  he  would  give 
him  all  that  he  carried.  Hence  it  happens, 
that  the  serpent,  being  advanced  in  age,  seems 
to  grow  young  again. 

This  Prometheus  was  a very  prudent  man  ; 
and,  because  he  reduced  rude  and  savage  men 
to  humanity,  they  feigned,  that  he  made  them 
out  of  clay  : Because  he  observed  the  motions 
of  the  stars  from  the  mountain  Caucasus,  there- 
fore they  said,  that  he  was  chained  there : Be- 
cause he  invented  the  method  of  striking  fire 
out  of  the  flint,  and  first  discovered  the  natur® 


heathen  gods. 


18§ 


of  liglitning,  lie  was  said  to  have  stolen  fire 
from  the  gods : And  because  he  applied  his 
mind  to  that  study  with  great  care  and  solici- 
tude, therefore  they  imagined,  that  an  eagle 
ate  his  liver. 

When  his  father  Deucalion  reigned  in  Thes- 
salj",  they  say,  that  the  whole  globe  of  the 
earth  was  overflown  by  so  great  a deluge,  that 
mankind  was  utterly  destroyed,  only  Deucali- 
on and  his  wife  Pyrrha  being  saved. 

Those  two  were  carried  in  a ship  upon  the 
mountain  Parnassus,  and  when  the  waters  were 
abated,  having  consulted  the  oracle  Themis, 
by  what  art  mankind  might  be  restored ; the 
answer  was,  that  mankind  would  be  restored  if 
they  cast  the  bones  of  their  great  mother,  that 
is,  the  stones  of  the  earth,  behind  their  backs. 
Therefore  having  cast  the  stones,  a miracle 
ensued  ; for  the  stones,  w hich  Deucalion  threw, 
were  turned  in(o  men,  and  Pyrrha  restored  her 
own  sex  by  the  like  metfiod. 

The  meaning  of  this  fable  is  ; Deucalion  and 
his  w ife  Pyrrha,  being  very  pious,  by  the  ex- 
ample of  their  life,  and  sanctity  of  manners, 
softened  men  and  women,  who  before  were 
fierce  and  hard  as  stones,  and  brought  them  to 
a civil  and  good  behavior. 


!90 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


CHAPTER  LII. 

ATLAS. 

ATLAS,  king  of  Mauritania,  was  the  son 
of  lapetus,  and  brother  of  Prometheus.  When 
he  understood  from  the  oracle,  that  destruction 
threatened  him  from  one  of  the  sons  of  Jupi- 
ter, he  resolved  to  entertain  no  stranger  in  his 
house.  But  Perseus,  who  was  begotten  by  Ju- 
piter, by  chance  taking  a journey  through  his 
dominions,  and  in  point  of  civility,  visiting 
him,  being  excluded  by  him,  and  provoked  at 
so  much  inhumanity,  having  held  out  the 
shield,  which  he  carried,  and  shewed  the  head 
of  Medusa,  changed  him  into  a mountain  of 
his  own  name,  so  high,  that  it  is  believed  to 
touch  heaven. 

They  feigned  that  Atlas  sustained  the  heav- 
ens on  his  shoulders,  because  he  was  a famous 
astronomer,  and  first  taught  the  nature  and  mo- 
tion of  the  spheres.  His  daughters  also  were 
esteemed  stars  by  the  ancients. 

By  his  wdfe  ^^thra  he  had  seven  daughters, 
who  were  called  Ambrosia,  Endora,  Pasithoe, 
Coronis,  Plexauris,  Py tho  and  Tyche ; and  by 
a common  name  Hyades.  He  had  also  seven 
others  by  Pleione,  and  their  names  were  Elec- 
tra,  Halcyone,  Celoeno,  Maia,  Asterope,  Tay- 
gete  and  Merope ; and  they  were  called  Plei- 
ades. 

The  Hyades  derive  their  name  from  a Greek 
word  signifying  to  rain  ; for,  when  they  rise  or 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


191 


set,  they  cause  great  rains.  Others  would  have 
them  so  called  from  their  brother  Hyas,  whom, 
being  devoured  by  a lion,  they  lamented  with 
implacable  grief,  so  that,  by  the  compassion  of 
Jupiter,  they  were  turned  into  seven  stars, 
which  are  seen  in  the  head  of  Taurus. 

The  Pleiades  are  so  called  from  a Greek 
word  signifying  sailing  ^ for,  when  these  stars 
arise,  they  portend  good  weather  to  navigators. 

The  Romans  call  them  Vergiliae,  from  the 
spring  season  in  which  they  rise : Although 
others  think,  that  they  were  so  called,  because 
they  never  appear  single,  but  altogether,  ex- 
cept Merope,  who  scarce  ever  allows  herself 
to  be  seen,  because,  when  the  other  sisters  had 
married  themselves  to  gods,  she  alone  joined 
herself  to  Sisyphus  a mortal.  These  Pleiades 
were  transformed  into  stars,  because  they  in- 
cessantly lamented  the  fate  of  their  father  At- 
las, who  was  changed  into  a mountain. 

Hesperus  was  the  brother  of  Atlas,  and  be- 
cause he  lived  some  time  in  Italy,  it  was  cal- 
led Hesperia  from  him.  He  frequently  went 
up  to  the  top  of  Mount  Atlas,  for  the  sake  of 
viewing  the  stars;  and,  because  at  last  he  ap- 
peared no  more,  the  vulgar  paid  divine  honors 
to  him,  and  called  a very  bright  star  by  his 
name. 

The  Hesperides  were  the  three  daughters  of 
Hesperus,  called  iEgle,  Arethusa,  and  Hesper- 
ethusa. 

It  is  reported  that  they  had  gardens  remark- 
able for  trees  bearing  golden  fruit,  and  that  a 


192 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


watchful  dragon  guarded  them,  which,  when 
Hercules  slew,  they  feigned  that  he  carried  a- 
way  the  golden  apples. 

CHAPTER  LIII, 

ORPHEUS  AND  JMPHION 

ORPHEUS  and  Amphion  were  drawn  to- 
gether in  the  same  picture,  and  almost  in  the 
same  colors;  because  both  excelled  in  the 
same  art,  and,  by  the  harmony  of  the  harp, 
moved  not  only  men,  but  beasts,  and  the  stones 
themselves. 

Orpheus  was  the  son  of  Apollo  by  Calliope 
the  Muse,  who,  having  received  a harp  from 
his  father,  sung  so  sweetly,  that  he  tamed  wild 
beasts,  stayed  the  courses  of  the  rivers,  and 
raised  the  woods  into  admiration  of  himself.  | 
They  report,  that  he  descended  into  hell  with 
the  same  harp,  that  he  might  recover  frdm  Piu-  i 
to  find  Proserpina  his  wife  Eurydice,  who  was  i 
killed  by  a serpent,  while  she  fied  from  the  vi-  | 
olence  of  Aristaeus:  And  that  he  so  charmed 
them  with  the  sweetness  of  his  music,  that  they 
permitted  his  wile  to  return  to  life,  upon  this 
condition,  notwithstanding,  that  he  should  not 
look  upon  her,  till  they  had  arrived  upon  the 
earth  ; but  such  was  the  impatience  of  his  pas- 
sion, that  he  could  not  perform  the  condition, 
wherefore  she  was  taken  back  again  into  hell. 
Hereupon  Orpheus  resolved  henceforth  to  Jive 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


193 


a life  of  celibacy,  and  by  his  example  he  alien- 
ated the  minds  of  many  others  from  the  love  of 
women ; for  which  cause,  he  is  said  to  have 
been  torn  in  pieces  by  the  Msenades  and  Bac- 
chse : Yet  others  give  a different  reason  of  his 
death,  namely,  that  the  women,  by  the  instiga- 
tion of  Venus,  were  so  inflamed  with  love  to 
him,  that  striving  to  run  into  his  embraces,  be- 
ing pushed  on  by  a furious  contention  and  de- 
sire, they  tore  him  in  pieces.  The  Muses 
gathered  his  bones,  and  reposed  them  in  a sep- 
nichre,  not  without  tears;  and  his  harp  was 
placed  among  the  constellations. 

Arnphion  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  by  Anfiope, 
He  received  his  harp  or  lute  from  Mercury, 
and  with  the  sound  thereof  moved  the  stones 
so  regularly,  that  they  composed  the  walls  of 
the  city  Thebes.  Because  both  Orpheus  and 
Arnphion,  by  the  power  of  eloquence,  had  re- 
duced savage  men  to  a more  civil  way  of  life, 
they  gave  occasion  to  this  fable. 

Arion  is  a proper  companion  for  these  two 
musicians.  He  was  a lyrick  poet,  born  at  Me- 
tbjmria,  in  the  island  of  Lesbos. 

He  having  gained  an  immense  treasure  by 
his  ar(,  while  he  sailed  back  from  Italy  to  Les- 
bos, his  native  country,  the  seamen  assaulted 
him  for  the  sake  of  his  riches.  But  entreat- 
ing, that  it  might  be  allov^red  him  to  play  some 
song  before  he  died ; having  taken  his  harp, 
and  playing  sweetly,  he  cast  himself  into  the 
sea  ; where  being  received  by  a dolphin,  which 
lie  had  charmed  by  his  music,  he  was  carried 

R 


194 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


on  his  back  fo  Tenedos ; and  the  dolphin,  in 
reward  of  his  kindness,  was  taken  up  into  hea- 
ven. 


CHAPTER  DIV. 

ACHILLES. 

ACHILLES  was  the  son  of  Peleus  by  The- 
tis. His  mother  plunged  him  in  the  Stygian 
waters,  when  he  was  yet  an  infant ; whence 
his  body  became  invulnerable,  except  that  part 
cf  the  foot,  by  which  he  was  held,  when  ho 
was  washed.  Olliers  say,  that  he  was  hid  by 
Thetis  in  the  night  under  a tire,  after  he  had 
been  anointed  with  Ambrosia  in  the  day; 
whence  he  was  first  called  Firisous,  because 
he  was  preserved  from  the  fire ; afterwards  he 
obtained  the  name  of  Achilles,  as  if  without  a 
lip,  because  his  lip,  which  he  licked,  after  it 
was  anointed  with  Ambrosia,  was  burnt  off.  i 
Others  report,  that  he  was  educated  by  Chiron 
the  Centaur,  and,  instead  of  milk,  was  fed  with 
the  entrails  of  lions,  and  marrow  of  boars  and  ' 
bears ; whence  he  had  an  immense  greatness  ^ 
of  soul,  and  invincible  strength  of  body.  i 

When  Thetis  had  heard  from  the  oracle,  that  ; 
her  son  should  die  in  the  Trojan  expedition, 
she  ordered  him  to  be  dressed  in  woman’s  ap- 
parel, and  to  skulk  in  the  boarding  school  in 
the  island  Scyros,  among  the  daughters  of  king 
Lycomedes.  Ulysses  discovering  this,  be-  ' 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


I9S 


cause  Calclias  the  diviner  had  declared,  that 
Troy  could  not  be  taken  without  Achdies, 
went  thither  as  a merchant  with  goods,  which 
he  exposed  to  sale  in  that  boarding  school, 
with  an  intent  of  knowing  him  from  the  other 
virgins. 

When,  from  the  natural  temper  of  the  sex, 
the  royal  maids  viewed  with  wishful  eyes,  and 
laid  their  hands  on  the  bracelets,  glasses,  and 
other  ornaments  of  the  female  dress  ; Achilles, 
on  the  contrary,  began  to  handle  the  targets,  to 
fit  the  helmets  to  his  head,  to  brandish  the 
swords,  and  place  them  to  his  side ; by  this 
discovery,  shewing  himself  a man,  he  was  con- 
strained  to  take  up  arms,  and  to  go  to  the  war, 
being  first,  at  the  request  of  Thetis,  equipped 
by  Vulcan,  with  impenetrable  armor. 

At  Troy  he  killed  Hector,  the  son  of  Pria- 
mus,  and  he  himself  was  slain  by  Paris,  by  a 
trick  of  Polyxena. 

This  Polyxena  was  the  daughter  of  Priamus, 
king  of  Troy,  a virgin  of  extraordinary  beauty. 
Achilles  by  chance  saw  her  upon  the  wails  of 
the  city,  loved,  and  wished  to  marry  her;  Pri- 
amus consented ; they  met  in  the  temple  of 
Apollo  to  solemnize  the  marriage,  where  Paris 
crept  in  privately,  and  hiding  himself  behind 
the  image  of  the  god,  with  an  arrow  killed  A- 
chiiles,  in  that  part  of  the  foot  in  wlDch  alone 
he  was  vulnerable.  Afterwards,  Troy  being 
taken,  the  Greeks  appeased  the  ghost  of  Achil- 
les, demanding  a due  punishment  ©f  the  mur- 
der, by  the  blood  of  Polyxena. 


196 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


CHAPTER  EV. 

ULYSSES. 

ULYSSES  was  the  son  of  Laertes  and  An- 
ticlea : His  wife  Penelope  was  highly  famed 
for  her  prudence  and  chastity.  While  the 
iiame  of  the  Trojan  war  raged,,  that  he  might 
avoid  that  expedition,  and  not  be  compelled  to 
go  away  from  his  dear  wife,  he  counterfeited 
madness,  having  joined  beasts  of  a different 
kind  in  the  plough,  and  sowing  salt  in  the  fur- 
rows. But  his  pretence  was  detected  by  Pala- 
medes,  who  threw  his  infant  son  into  the  fur- 
row, while  he  ploughed,  to  see  whether  Ulysses 
would  wound  him  with  the  ploughshare.  When 
Ulysses  went  out  of  the  way,  and  turned  the 
plough,  that  he  might  not  hurt  the  boy,  being 
judged  to  be  in  his  right  wits,  he  was  compelled 
to  go  to  the  war,  w here  he  did  great  service^ 
and  himself  alone  chiefly  brought  it  about,  that 
Troy  was  taken,  having  removed  all  the  fatal 
obstacles  of  storming  it ; For  he  brought  Achil- 
les to  the  w^ar,  and  Hercule’s  arrows,  got  from 
Philoctetes,  to  Troy ; also  he  carried  away 
the  ashes  of  Laomedon,  which  were  preserved 
upon  the  Scsean  gate  of  Troy  ; and  stole  the 
Palladium  from  the  same  city  : He  likewise 
killed  Rhesus,  king  of  Thrace,  and  took  his 
horses,  before  they  had  tasted  the  w ater  of  the 
river  Xanthus.  All  which  things  w ere  in  the 
fates  of  Troy,  so  that,  without  them,  it  could 
not  have  been  taken. 


PI4CATHEN  GODS.  j,97 

Afterwards  be  disputed  with  Ajax,  the  son 
of  Telamon  and  Hesione,  before  the  Grecian 
princes,  for  the  arms  of  Achilles.  The  judges, 
being  persuaded  by  the  eloquence  of  Ulysses, 
assigned  the  arms  to  him.  At  which  disap- 
pointment, Ajax,  falling  into  a rage,  fell  upon 
his  sword,  and  his  blood  issuing  forth,  was  turn- 
ed into  a violet. 

Afterwards  Ulysses,  being  tossed  on  the  sea 
in  a tedious  voyage  of  twenty  years,  and  al- 
ways driven  from  his  native  country  by  con- 
trary tempests,  in  that  time,  first  blinded  Poly- 
phemus, having  put  out  his  eye  with  a fire- 
brand : And  from  thence  setting  sail  into  Mo- 
lid,  he  got  from  ^olus  all  the  contrary  winds 
put  into  leathern  bags : But  when  he  had  al- 
most made  the  port  of  Ithaca,  the  bags  being 
untied  by  his  companions,  who  supposed  them 
full  of  money,  the  winds  gushing  out,  he  was 
driven  into  jEolia  again. 

Secondly,  When  his  companions  were  chan- 
ged into  beasts  by  Circe,  having  taken,  against 
all  her  charms,  an  antidote,  which  Mercury 
had  made  up,  he  rushed  into  her  cave  with  a 
drawn  sword,  and  compelled  the  sorceress  to 
restore  his  companions  to  their  former  shapes  ; 
by  which  being  reconciled,  she  bore  him  a son 
called  Telegodus. 

Thirdly,  He  went  dow  n to  hell,  to  know  from 
the  prophet  Tiresias,  what  things  should  hap- 
pen to  him. 

Fourthly,  Having  sailed  to  the  islands  of  the 
Sirens,  he  avoided  the  dangeroits  snares 

K 2 


198 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


their  charming  voice,  having  sto])petl  the  ears 
of  his  companions  w ith  wax,  and  himself  being 
bound  with  a strong  rope  to  the  ship’s  mast. 

And,  lastly.  The  ship  being  broken  by  the 
waves,  and  having  suffered  wreck,  he  escaped 
by  swimming,  and  came  naked  and  alone  to 
the  port  of  the  Phoeacenses,  where  being  found 
by  Nausicaa,  the  daughter  of  king  Alcinous, 
lying  among  the  young  trees,  he  was  civilly 
entertained,  and  his  companions  and  ship  being 
found,  he  was  carried  asleep  into  Ithaca,  Here 
being  awakened  by  Pallas,  by  her  advice,  he 
put  on  the  disguise  of  a beggar  : Then  he  went 
to  his  neatherd’s,  with  whom  he  found  his  son 
Telemachus:  From  thence  he  was  brought 
home;  where,  after  many  affronts  offered  to 
him  by  the  wooers  of  Penelope,  by  the  assist- 
ance of  his  son  and  the  neatherds,  to  whom  he 
discovered  himself,  taking  up  arms,  he  killed 
them  all  to  a man,  and  then  received  his  wife 
Penelope. 

This  Penelope  was  the  daughter  of  Icarus,  a 
perfect  example  of  singular  chastity  ; for  though 
it  was  generally  thought,  that  her  husband  was 
dead,  yet  she  could  not  be  prevailed  upon  by 
any  persuasions  of  her  parents,  or  solicitations 
of  her  lovers,  to  violate  her  faith  plighted  to 
her  husband,  when  he  departed.  And  when 
many  noble  youths  courted  her,  and  even 
threatened  violence,  if  she  should  refuse  to  mar- 
ry, the  crafty  woman  asked,  and  indeed  obtain- 
ed as  much  time  to  deliberate,  as  was  sufficient 
^r  finishing  the  web,  which  she  had  in  hand. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


199 


But  undoing  by  night,  what  she  had  woven  by 
day,  she  pot  them  off  till  the  return  of  Ulys- 
ses, who  killed  them  all. 


CHAPTER  LVi. 


ORION.. 

ORION,  as  is  reported,  was  produced  from 
the  urine  of  three  gods.  For  w hen  Jupiler 
Neptune  and  Mercury  took  a journey  together 
being  benighted,  they  turned  into  the  cottage 
of  a certain  poor  man  called  Hireus.  They 
were  entertained  so  kindly,  and  even  splendid- 
ly, for  the  meanness  of  their  host,  that  they 
granted  him  the  liberty  of  asking  w hat  he  plea- 
sed. He  said  that  he  wished  to  live  a single 
life,  because  he  had  so  promised  to  his  dying 
wife,  and  yet  extremely  desired  a son. 

The  gods  favoring  so  pious  a request,  moist 
ened  the  hide  of  an  ox,  which  he  had  killed  foi 
their  entertainment,  with  their  urine,  corn 
manding  him  to  bury  it  in  the  earth.  In  the 
tenth  month  afterwards  he  digged  it  up  again, 
as  he  was  ordered,  and  found  a boy  produced 
from  thence,  which  he  called  Urion,  or  Orion. 
He  afterwards,  growing  up,  joined  himself  a 
companion  to  Diana.  But  because  his  love  to 
the  goddess  exceeded  the  bounds  of  modesty  i 
or  because,  as  some  s ly,  he  extolled  the  strength 
of  his  own  body  too  insolently,  and  boasted, 
that  there  was  no  wild  beast,  which  he  could 


200 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


not  easily  master ; the  earth  not  enduring  such 
arrogance,  sent  a scorpion,  by  which  he  was 
killed.  He  was  afterwards  carried  to  heaven, 
and  placed  among  the  constellations,  where  he 
is  believed  to  raise  storms,  when  he  appears 
not ; but  on  the  other  hand,  to  bring  a caitHf 
when  he  shews  himself. 


' CHAPTER  LVII. 

OSIRIS,  APIS  AND  SERAPIS. 

OSIRIS,  Apis  and  Serapis  were  three  dif- 
ferent names  of  one  and  the  same  God.  Osiris 
was  the  son  of  Jupiter  by  Niobe,  the  daughter 
of  Phoroneus.  After  he  had  reigned  many 
years  over  the  Argives,  being  inflamed  with  a 
desire  of  glory,  he  left  his  kingdom  to  his  broth- 
er ^gialus,  and  sailed  into  Eg>pt,  to  seek  a 
new  name  and  new  dominions  there. 

That  nation  being  not  so  much  overcome  by 
his  arms,  as  obliged  by  his  kindness  and  great 
favors,  he  married  lo,  daughter  of  Inachus, 
whom  Jupiter  had  turned  into  a cow,  as  was 
mentioned  before,  but  when  she,  driven  by  the 
Furies,  came  to  Egypt,  being  restored  to  her 
former  shape,  she  was  wedded  to  Osiris,  and 
taught  the  Egyptian’s  letters ; wherefore  both 
she  and  her  husband  obtained  divine  honors, 
and  were  esteemed  immortal  by  that  people. 
But  Osiris  shewed  himself  mortal,  being  killed 
by  his  brother  Typhon,  and  being  sought  by 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


202 

his  wife  lo,  otherwise  called  Isis,  was  at  last 
found  in  a chest,  and  laid  in  a monument,  in 
an  island  near  to  Memphis,  which  the  sad  and 
fatal  Stygian  Lake  encompasses.  And  be- 
cause she  made  use  of  the  sagacity  of  dogs,  to 
find  out  the  place  in  which  he  was  hid,  hence 
they  say  it  happened,  that  in  the  solemn  pro- 
cession of  Isis,  which  used  yearly  to  be  cele- 
brated, dogs  went  before,  and  the  people  wor- 
shipped a god  with  a dog’s  head,  called  Anubis, 
with  religious  ceremony.  After  the  body  of 
Osiris  was  committed  to  the  grave,  there  ap- 
peared to  the  Escyptians  an  ox  of  a beautiful 
shape,  which  they,  supposing  to  be  Osiris,  wor- 
shipped as  a god,  and  called  it  Apis,  in  their 
language,  an  ox.  Because,  after  his  death,  his 
body  was  found  shut  up  in  a chest,  he  was  cal- 
led Serapis,  and  afterwards  by  the  change  of 
the  second  letter  Serapis.  Plutarch  says,  that 
Osiris  was  thought  to  be  the  sun,  and  was  rep- 
resented by  a sceptre,  in  the  top  of  which  shone 
an  eye;  because  the  sun  sees  and  enlightens 
all  things. 

Isis,  whom  some  affirm  to  be  Pallas,  others 
the  Earth,  others  Ceres,  and  many  the  Moon, 
was  painted  horned,  after  the  similitude  of  the 
increasing  moon,  dressed  in  black  garments, 
because  the  moon  shines  in  darkness,  holding 
a cymbal  in  her  right  hand,  and  a bucket  in  her 
left.  The  feathers  of  a vulture  adorned  her 
head,  for,  among  the  Egyptians,  that  bird  is 
sacred  to  Juno ; and  the  top  of  the  porches  used 
to  be  dressed  with  its  feathers. 


HEATHEN  GODS.  §03 

The  priests  of  Isis,  called  Isiaci,  abstained 
fiX)m  swine  and  sheep’s  flesh,  neither  used  salt 
to  their  meat,  lest  they  should  violate  their 
chastity^  they  shaved  their  heads,  and  they 
•wore  paper  shoes,  and  a linen  vest,  because 
Isis  first  taught  the  use  of  flax,  whence  she  is 
called  Linigera. 

Tliough  Serapis  was  the  god  of  the  Egyp- 
tians, yet  he  was  worshipped  in  Greece,  and  es- 
pecially at  Athens,  also  at  Rome.  He  was  cal- 
led by  some  Jupiter  Ammon,  by  others  Pluto, 
Bacchus,  iEsculapius,  and  sometimes  Osiris. 
His  image  bore  a flasket  on  its  head,  and  near 
it  lay  a three-headed  creature,  having  in  the 
middle  a lion’s  head,  on  the  right  side  a dog’s, 
and  on  the  left  a wolfs. 

A twisting  snake  encom pas  ed  them,  with  ‘ 
Ms  head  hanging  down  to  the  god’s  right  hantl^ 
by  which  the  terrible  monster  was  bridled. 
Besides,  in  all  the  temples  almost,  wherein  Se- 
rapis and  Isis  were  worshipped,  an  image  was 
seen,  which  having  put  its  finger  on  its  lips, 
seemed  to  enjoin  silence.  By  this  they  meant, 
as  Varro  thinks,  that  none  should  dare  to  say, 
that  these  gods  were  formerly  men  : and  it  was 
prov  ided  by  a law,  under  the  penalty  of  death, 
that  none  should  say,  that  Serapis  was  once  a 
mortal. 

Apis,  of  whom  we  spoke  above,  was  king  of 
the  Argives,  who  being  transported  thence  in- 
to Egypt,  became  Serapis  the  greatest  of  all 
the  gods  of  the  Egyptians.  After  his  death, 
succeeded  the  ox,  which  we  mentioned  before, 


204 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


whose  form  and  qualities,  Pliny  describes  5 but 
that  is  not  material  to  our  purpose. 

SEA  GODS, 

NEPTUNE  is  the  principal  God  of  the  sea ; 
but  as  he  is  also  reckoned  among  the  Celestial 
Gods,  we  have  given  him  his  proper  station. 
His  exploits,  which  are  recorded  by  the  poets 
and  Mythologists,  were  chiefly  performed  on 
the  land.  Of  the  other  most  remarkable  sea 
deities  the  following  are  selected. 

CHAPTER  LVUI. 

TRITON. 

TRITON,  the  son  of  Neptune  by  Amphi- 
trite  was  also  his  companion  and  trumpeter, 
who  bearing  the  likeness  of  a man  down  to  the 
navel,  resembles  a fish  as  to  the  rest.  His  feet 
are  like  the  fore  feet  of  a horse ; his  tail  fork- 
ed and  crooked  ; and  his  hairs  not  unlike  wild 
parsley. 

Oceanus,  another  of  these  marine  deities,  was 
descended  of  Coelum  and  Vesta,  who,  by  the 
ancients,  was  called  the  father  not  only  of  all 
rivers,  but  also  of  the  animals,  and  of  the  gods 
themselves  ; and  they  say,  that  all  things  took 
their  beginning  from  him.  He  is  reported  to 
have  begot  of  his  wife  Thetys,  three  thousand 
sojtts^  the  most  eminent  of  whom,  was 


HEATHEJir 

Nereus,  a famous  prophesier,  nursed  and  ed“» 
ncated  by  the  waves,  dwelling  chiefly  in  the 
^gean  sea,  who  by  his  wife  Doris  had  fifty 
daughters  called  from  him  Nereides. 

Palaemon,  and  Ino  his  mother,  were  made 
sea  deities  on  this  occasion.  When  she  saw 
one  of  her  sons,  Learchus  by  name,  torn  in  pie- 
ces, and  dashed  to  the  wall  by  her  husband^ 
Athamas,  who  was  enraged  by  the  Furies ; and 
fearing  the  like  fate  to  herself  and  her  surviv- 
ing child,  having  taken  the  boy  in  her  arms, 
she  threw  herself  and  him  headlong  into  the 
sea,  and  both  drew  their  divinity  from  the  wa-< 
ters,  having  made  shipwreck  only  of  their  for- 
mer names ; for  §he  was  called  Leucothoe,  and 
he  Palaemon  by  the  Greeks,  but  by  the  Latins 
Portumnus. 

Glaucus,  the  fisherman,  got  divine  honors  by 
a more  pleasant  way.  For  when  he  had  spread 
the  fishes,  which  he  caught  by  his  nets,  on  th» 
brink,  and  had  observed  that,  at  the  touch  of  a 
certain  herb,  they  recovered  their  strength,  and 
leaped  again  into  the  waters,  wondering  at  th© 
©fleet,  he  desired  to  prove  the  quality  of  th© 
herb,  and  having  tasted  it,  he  instantly  followr 
ed  his  fishes,  jumping  into  the  waters,  and  be« 
came  a sea-god. 

Canopus,  a god  of  the  Egyptians,  is  to  be 
added  to  these  deities  of  the  waters ; who,  by 
the  help  of  that  element,  gained  a memorable^ 
victory  over  the  gods  of  the  Chaldeans. 

For  a controversy  arising  between  these  two 
people,  whose  god  was  the  greater  and  more 


206 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


powerfis],  the  priests  of  both  nations,  together 
with  their  god,  met  by  appointment  to  decide 
the  matter. 

The  image  of  Canopus,  and  Fire,  the  deity 
of  the  Chaldeans,  are  placed  one  against  the 
other,  ready  to  tight : but  Canopus,  whose  bel- 
ly was  a pitcher  full  of  water,  and  w ith  holes 
covered  with  wax,  so  small  that  no  eyes  could 
discern  them,  being  enraged  with  anger,  and 
endamed  at  the  sight  of  the  god  Fire,  the  wax 
melting  with  the  heat,  assaulted  the  enemy 
with  such  violence,  that,  with  his  liquid  darts, 
he  quite  extinguished  and  subdued  him,  and  re- 
turned victor  from  the  battle. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

PROTEUSy 

WAS  a deity  who  held  a very  considerable 
rank  among  the  gods  of  the  ocean;  and  was 
celebrated  for  possessing  a prophetic  spirit  as 
well  as  llie  | ow er  of  changing  himself  into  ail 
manner  of  shapes. 

AVhen  Meneiaus  returned  from  the  war  of 
Troy,  h(S  fleet  was  driven  to  Egypt ; where  it 
was  long  detained  by  cairns  and  contrary  winds. 
At  iengtii  the  Greeks  under  his  command,  Avere 
in  danger  of  perishing  by  hunger,  and  famine 
stared  them  in  the  face ; but  in  their  extreme 
iitc  ssity  Eidolhea,  the  daughter  of  Proteus,  ap- 
peared to  Meneiaus,  and  informed  him  that  her 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


2®1 


lather  Proteus,  who  was  the  delegate  of  Nep- 
tune in  those  seas,  resorted  daily  to  the  Island 
of  Pharos,  attended  by  the  Phocse,  which  sur- 
rounded him  every  day  while  he  took  his  nap 
at  noon  on  the  shore.  Eidothea  met  him  and 
the  three  resolute  companions  who  attended 
him  by  appointment  at  Pharos.  She  made 
holes  for  them  in  the  sand,  and  covered  them 
with  the  shells  of  four  of  the  Phocse,  which  she 
had  provided.  At  noon  the  remaining  Phocae 
arrived  on  the  shore  ; and  when  Proteus  rose 
from  the  sea,  he  counted  them  as  usual,  and 
finding  the  number  complete,  he  fell  asleep. 
I cannot  describe  this  adventure  better  than 
by  the  account  Homer  has  given  of  it. 

Pleas’d  with  the  false  review,  secure  he  Ees, 

And  leaden  slumbers  press  his  drooping  eyes. 

Rushing  impetuous  forth,  we  straight  prepare 
A furious  onset  with  the  sound  of  war, 

And  shouting  seize  the  God : our  force  t’  evade 
His  various  arts  he  soon  resumes  in  aid : 

A lion  now,  he  curls  his  surgy  mane; 

Sudden,  our  bands  a spotted  |i.;rd  restrmn ; 

Then  arm’d  with  tusks,  and  hght’ning  in  his  eyes 
A boar’s  obsceiier  shape  the  god  belies : 

On  spiry  volumes,  there  a dragon  rides ; 

Her : fro  n our  strict  embrace,  a stream  he  glides  t 
And  last,  sublime,  Ms  stately  growth  he  rears, 

A tree  ; and  well  dissembled  foliage  wears. 

Vain  e-forts  ! with  superior  pow’r  compress’d^ 

He  with  reluctance  thus  the  seer  address’d : 

Say  son  of  Atreus,  say  what  god  inspir’d 
This  daring  fraud,  and  what  the  boon  desir’d  ? 

Eidothea  hatl  particularly  directenl  them  not 
to  loose  their  hold  on  him — and  finding  himself 
thus  overcome,  he  gave  Menelaus  directions 
how  to  propitiate  the  gods,  in  order  to  regain 
his  native  country  ; and  informed  him  concern™ 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


ing  the  fate  of  his  friends  who  had  attended 
him  to  the  Trojan  war.  Menelaus  performed 
the  rites  prescribed  by  Proteus — and  obtained 
a prosperous  voyage  to  the  shores  of  Greece. 


CHAPTER  LX. 

LEUCOTHOE 

WAS  one  of  the  sea  goddesses  or  nymphs. 
She  is  represented  as  being  of  a cerulean  color, 
and  very  beautifuL  She  sometimes  acted  in 
opposition  to  the  will  of  Neptune.  For  when 
that  god  had  destroyed  the  bark  which  Ulysses 
built  for  himself,  and  on  which  he  was  voyag- 
ing from  the  island  of  Calypso,  Leucothoe  see- 
ing him  buffetting  the  waves,  she  appeared  to 
him;  and  gave  him  a scarf  which  kept  him 
buoyant  and  by  virtue  whereof  he  arrived  in 
flie  Island  of  Pheacia. 

CHAPTER  LXI. 

THE  sirens: 

THE  Sirens  were  three,  descended  of  uncer- 
tain parents  ; some  say,  that  they  were  the  off- 
spring of  Achelous  the  river,  and  Melpomene 
the  Muse  : They  had  the  faces  of  women,  but 
the  bodies  of  flying  fish.  They  dwelt  near  the 
promontory  Pelorus  in  Sicily,  ©r  in  the  Islands 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


2m 


Galled  Sireniisae,  situate  in  the  extreme  par(& 
of  Italy;  where  they  drowned  in  the  sea  all 
men  sailing  by  these  coasts,  being  first  charm- 
ed with  the  sweetness  of  their  singing,  then 
composed  in  a deep  sleep,  and  afterw^ards  they 
took  them  out  and  devoured  them.  Their 
names  were  Parthenope,  Ligea,  and  Leucosia. 

That  their  charms  might  more  easily  slide 
through  the  ears  into  the  mind  of  the  hearers, 
they  added  the  measures  and  notes  of  the  harp, 
to  the  modulation  of  the  voice ; and  adapted 
the  matter  of  the  song  to  every  one’s  temper, 
by  some  enticing  the  ambitious,  by  others  the^ 
voluptuous,  and  by  others  the  covetous  draw- 
ing them  to  destruction. 

Ulj^sses  and  Orpheus  only  escaped.  The 
former,  being  forewarned  by  Circe  of  his  dan- 
ger from  their  singing,  stopped  the  ears  of  his 
companions  with  wax,  and  ordered  himself  to 
be  bound  to  the  mast  of  the  ship  ; by  which 
means,  he  was  carried  safe  by  the  fatal  coasts. 

The  latter,  namely,  Orpheus,  overcame  them 
in  their  own  art ; for  striking  his  harp,  and  cel- 
ebrating the  praises  of  the  gods,  he  far  out-did 
the  rausick  of  these  monsters ; so  that  out  of 
despair,  they  threw  themselves  into  the  sea,^ 
and  were  turned  into  stones. 

By  this  fiction  the  poets  would  signify,  that 
the  minds  of  men  are  deposed  from  their  proper 
seat  and  state,  by  the  allurements  of  pleasures, 
and  that  there  is  no  more  deadly  plague  given 
by  nature  to  men.  Whoever  pursues  them., 
iff!  shipwreck  ff  rea^Q^►  Wheever 

I 2 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


then  desires  to  decline  them,  it  is  necessary, 
that  his  ears  be  stopf)ed  to  their  charms,  but 
opened  to  the  music  of  Orpheus,  that  is,  to  the 
instructions  and  precepts  of  the  wise. 


CHAPTER  LXI. 


SCYLLA  AND  CHARYBDIS. 

SOME  say,  that  Scylla  w as  a most  beautiful 
•woman  from  the  breast  downward,  but  had  six 
dogs’  heads  at  her  under  parts  : Others  report, 
that,  in  the  upper  part  of  the  body,  sh«^  shewed 
the  appearance  of  a woman,  but  in  the  lower, 
of  a serpent  and  wolf.  All,  however,  affirm 
her  to  have  been  the  daughter  of  Phorcus. 

She  being  inflamed  with  mutual  afiection  to- 
wards Glaucus,  who  loved  her  exceedingly, 
Circe,  who  also  admired  him,  was  enraged  that 
Scylla  should  be  preferred  to  her;  and  there- 
fore in  revenge  infected  the  fountain,  wherein 
her  rival  used  to  bathe,  with  poisonous  herbs, 
Scylla,  being  ignorant  of  the  thing,  and  enter- 
ing the  fountain,  soon  perceived  the  lower  par{ 
of  her  body  changed  into  the  heads  of  dogs  ; 
which  affected  her  with  such  grief,  that  she  cast 
herself  headlong  into  the  neighboring  sea, 
where  she  was  turned  into  a lock,  infamous  for 
many  shipwrecks. 

This  rock,  which  still  is  seen  in  the  sea,  di- 
viding Italy  from  Sicily,  between  Messina  and 
Rhegium,  a town  of  Calabria^  is  said  to  be  sur- 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


2U 


tounded  with  dog;s  and  wolves,  because  the 
noise  of  the  waves,  broken  upon  this  great 
rock  by  the  returning  tide,  resembles  the  bark- 
ing and  howling  of  those  animals. 

Charybdis  is  a vast  whirlpool  in  the  same 
Sicilian  sea,  over  against  Scylla,  which  boils 
up  with  the  swelled  rolls  of  the  water,  and  with 
its  eddies,  swallows  and  vomits  up  again  all 
near  it. 

They  say,  that  this  Charybdis  was  a very 
ravenous  woman,  who,  when  she  stole  Hercu- 
les’s oxen,  being  struck  by  Jupiter  with  a thun- 
der bolt,  was  turned  into  that  Gulph. 

These  fables  represent  the  vices  of  luxury 
and  gluttony,  which  render  the  voyage  of  life 
very  hazardous. 

The  former,  like  Scylla,  draws  unwary  pas- 
sengers by  the  deceitful  charms  of  beauty  ; and 
■when  she  hath  once  entangled  them  in  her 
snares,  she  tortures,  vexes,  torments  and  dis- 
quiets them  with  rage  surpassing  the  madness 
of  dogs,  or  the  ravenousness  of  wolves. 

The  latter,  namely  gluttony,  is  an  insatiable 
gulph,  which  buries  families  alive,  devours  es- 
tates and  patrimonies,  consumes  lands  and  treas- 
ures, and  sucks  up  all  things.  They  are  neigh- 
boring vices  like  Scylla  and  Charybdis,  and 
indeed  too  often  act  with  united  forces  ; for 
you  will  hardly  find  a man  addicted  to  glutto- 
ny, who  is  not  besmeared  with  the  filth  of  base 
pleasures,  and  'wholly  given  up  to  the  most 
vik  and  impudent  lustsj. 


222 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


THE  INFERNAL  DEITIES. 

With  a brief  account  of  hell  and  Ely sum^  prefixed, 

CHAPTER  LXIl. 

HELL. 

WE  will  now  treat  of  the  infernal  deities^ 
and  the  dark  and  gloomy  regions  of  hell.  The 
passage  that  leads  to  these  dominions,  is  a deep 
cave,  with  a wide  mouth,  a rocky  descent,  over- 
shadowed with  a grove,  and  dreadful  with  the 
lake  Avernus,  whence  such  poisonous  vapours 
arise,  that  birds,  attempting  to  fly  over  it,  are 
immediately  killed  by  the  stench  of  it. 

Before  the  very  entrance  of  hell  sits  sorrow, 
revengeful  cares,  pale  diseases,  repining  old 
age,  fear,  famine,  poverty,  labor  and  death. 
Next,  sleep,  the  half  brother  of  death,  the  evil 
pleasures  of  a guilty  mind,  fatal  war,  fraud  and 
violence,  also  the  iron  beds  of  the  furies,  and 
mad  discord  tying  her  snaky  hair  with  bloody 
ribbands. 


ELYSIUM, 


ELY  SIUM  is  a place  in  the  infernal  domin- 
ions, abounding  with  pleasures  and  delights; 
whither  the  souls  of  the  good  go,  after  they  are 
loosed  from  the  chains  of  the  body,  and  purged 
from  their  lighter  olfences,  that  they  had  cth’ 
kacted  ija  this  wtrld. 


HEATHEN  GODS*. 


213 


jEneas  received  this  account  from  one  of  the 
inhabitants  of  it,  as  Virgil  says,  who  describes 
this  place  as  abounding  with  all  the  delights, 
that  the  most  pleasant  plains,  the  most  verdant 
fields,  and  most  temperate  air  can  produce. 


CHAPTER  LXirU 


PLUTO. 

PLUTO  is  the  king  of  hell,  begotten  of  Satr 
urn  and  Ops,  and  the  brother  of  Jupiter  and 
Neptune.  These  infernal  kingdoms  are  attri- 
buted to  him,  not  only  because  the  western 
parts  of  the  world  fell  to  him  by  lot ; but  also 
because  he  Introduced  the  use  of  burying  and 
funeral  obsequies : hence  he  is  believed  to  ex- 
ercise a sovereignty  over  the  dead.  He  sits 
on  a dark  throne,  holding  a key  instead  of  a 
sceptre,  and  wearing  a crown  of  ebony.  Some- 
times he  is  crowned  with  a diadem,  sometimes 
with  the  flowers  of  the  Daffodil,  and  sometimes 
with  the  leaves  of  the  cypress,  because  he  is 
delighted  with  these  plants,  especially  the  daf- 
fodil ; for  Proserpina  was  gathering  that  flower, 
when  he  stole  her  away.  His  horses  and  char- 
iot are  of  a black  color ; and  himself  is  often 
painted  with  a rod  in  his  hand  for  a sceptre, 
and  covered  with  a head-piece. 

The  key  in  his  hand  signifies,  that  the  dead 
are  locked  up  in  the  other  world,  so  as  that  they 
cannot  return  to  life  again;  for  he  presides 


214 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


over  life  and  death,  and  has  also  the  power  ot 
lengthening  or  shortening  the  lives  of  men  on 
this  earth.  He  is  also  the  god  of  riches,  be- 
cause they  are  dug  up  from  beneath. 


CHAPTER  LXIV. 

PLUTUS. 

PLUTUS,  though  he  is  not  one  of  the  in- 
iernal  gods,  is  joined  to  Pluto,  because  of  the  af- 
finity of  the  name  and  office  ; for  both  of  them 
are  gods  of  riches,  which  are  the  root  of  all 
evils,  and  which  nature  the  common  parent, 
hath  placed  near  hell : nor  indeed  is  there  any 
nearer  way  to  that  place,  than  by  hunting  after 
riches  too  eagerly. 

This  Plutus  was  the  son  of  Jason,  or  Jasius, 
by  Ceres : He  was  blind,  lame,  void  of  judg- 
ment, and  of  a very  timorous  nature ; which 
infirmities  were  justly  ascribed  to  him ; for  he 
too  often  passes  by  good  men,  in  the  distribu- 
tion of  his  treasures,  and  loads  the  wicked  vyith 
riches;  which  shews  that  he  is  blind.  Wealth 
got  by  industry  comes  slowly,  and  therefore 
they  feign  him  lame : And  lastly,  he  was  timo- 
rous, because  the  rich  use  to  watch  over  their 
treasures  with  great  care  and  fear. 


beAthen  gods. 


215 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

PROSERPINA. 

PROSERPINA  is  queen  of  hell,  Ihe  infer- 
nal Juno,  and  \^ife  of  Pluto.  She  was  the 
daughter  of  Jupiter,  who  being  disguised  in  the 
sba{)e  of  a bull,  begat  her  of  Ceres  ; and  after 
i|  she  was  born,  and  grown  up,  he  debauched  her, 

||  though  his  own  daughter,  in  the  ibrm  of  a drag- 
l on. 

II  When  none  of  the  goddesses  would  marry 

i Pluto  because  of  his  deformity,  being  vexed 
I that  he  was  so  despised,  and  forced  to  live  a 
I single  life,  he  in  a rage  mounted  his  chariot, 
I and  suddenly  sprung  up  from  a den  of  Sicily  ; 

I where,  having  seen  a company  of  very  beauti- 

1^  ful  virgins,  gathering  liowers  in  the  fields  of 
' Enna,  he,  inflamed  with  love,  rushed  upon  one 
of  them,  and  the  most  charming,  Proserpina  by 
I name,  carried  her  oif  w ith  him,  and  sunk  into 
the  earth  not  far  frorn  Syracuse,  where  sudden- 
; ly  a lake  arose.  The  other  iiym[dis,  her  com- 
; panions,  being  struck  with  fear  and  dispersed, 

^ Ceres,  the  mother,  came  to  find  her  daughter, 

: but  iii  vain.  Therefore  having  kindled  torch- 

I es  at  the  flames,  winch  burst  forth  from  the  top 

I!  of  Mount  A^itna,  she  seeks  Pi’oserpina  through- 
I out  all  the  countries  of  the  world.  At  last  she 
I was  assured  by  the  nymph  Arethusa,  that  she 
i was  stolen  by  Pluto,  and  carried  down  into  his 
dark  dominions.  Ceres  enraged  with  anger, 
immediately  goes  to  Jupiter,  and  complains  of 


216 


HEATHEN  CODS. 


the  violence  offered  to  her  daughter  by  his 
brother  Pluto.  Jupiter  promised  that  she  should 
return  to  the  world,  provided  she  had  tasted 
nothing  in  hell.  Hereupon  Ceres  went  dow  n 
rejoicing,  and  Proserpina  was  returning,  tri- 
umphing with  great  transport,  when  Ascala- 
phus  told,  that  she  saw  Proserpina  while  she 
walked,  in  Pluto's  orchard,  pluck  a promegra- 
nate,  and  eat  some  grains  of  it ; by  which  fatal 
discovery,  her  return  was  stopped.  The  moth- 
er amazed  at  this  mischance,  and  incensed, 
changed  Ascalaphus  into  an  owl,  an  ill-boding 
bird;  and  then,  by  importunate  prayers,  extor- 
ted from  Jupiter,  that  Proserpina  should  live 
half  the  year  with  her,  and  the  rest  of  the  time 
with  her  husband  Pluto.  She  afterwards  so 
loved  this  disagreeable  husband,  that,  being 
subject  to  jealousy,  she  turned  his  mistress, 
Mentha,  into  mint,  an  herb  of  her  own  name. 

The  signification  of  the  fable  is  this.  Ceres 
is  the  earth,  Proserpina  is  the  fertility  of  the 
earth,  or  rather  the  seed,  which  lies  buried  un- 
der ground  in  the  winter,  and  in  summer  breaks 
forth,  and  becomes  fruit ; thus  Proserpina  lives 
half  the  year  in  hell  and  the  other  half  in  heav- 
en. 


CHAPTER  LXVI. 


CHARON. 

CHARON  is  the  ferry-man  of  hell,  a nasty, 
pale^  long-bearded  old  fellow;  he  waits  with 


51  s 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


bis  boat,  that  he  may  carry  over  to  the  oth^r 
side,  the  souls  of  the  dead,  \^hich  hock  to  the 
shores  in  troops ; yet  not  all  promiscuously,  but 
those  only,  whc;se  bodies  are  committed  to  the 
grave ; for  the  unburied  wander  about  the 
shores  an  hundred  years,  and  then  are  admitted 
into  the  boat,  having  first  paid  to  Charon,  a 
half-penny  by  way  of  fare. 

There  are  four  rivers  to  he  passed  over  by 
the  dead. 

The  first  is  Acheron,  who  formerly  was  the 
son  of  Terra,  or  Ceres,  I orn  in  a cave,  and  con- 
ceived without  a father  ; and  because  he  could 
not  endure  to  behold  the  light,  he  ran  down  to 
hell,  and  w as  changed  into  a river,  w hose  w a- 
ters are  extremely  bitter. 

The  second  is  Styx,  which  is  a lake  rather 
than  a river,  and  was  formerly  the  daughter  of 
Oceanus,  and  the  mother  of  the  goddess  Victo- 
ria by  Achercn. 

\i  hen  Victoria  stood  on  Jupiter’s  side,  in 
the  war  against  the  Giants,  she  obtained  this 
prerogative  for  her  mother  Styx,  that  the  gods 
shouid  not  violate  her  deity  by  an  oath  ; if  any 
of  them  should  act  contrary,  he  should  be  ban- 
ished fsom  the  nectar  and  table  of  the  gods,  a 
year  and  nine  davs;  hence  they  held  an  oath 
by  the  Stygian  Lake  sacred. 

llie  third  river,  Coccytus,  fiow^s  with  a 
lamentahje,  and,  as  it  were,  a groaning  noise> 
imitating  and  encreasing  the  howling  of  the 
damned. 

The  fourth  is  Piilegethon,  or  Periphlegethon^  i 


SEAfHEN  GOBlI.  ’211 

which  swells  with  fiery  weaves,  and  rblls  streams 
of  flames.  The  souls  of  the  dead,  having  pas*- 
sed  over  these  rivers,  are  carried  to  Pluto’s  pal- 
ace ; in  the  gate  of  which  Cerberus  watches,  a 
dog  with  three  heads,  begotten  of  Echidna  and 
Typhon;  and  whose  body  is  covered  with 
snakes,  instead  of  hair. 

Lethe  is  another  river  in  hell,  whose  waters 
if  any  drink,  lie  immediately  forgets  all  things 
past.  And  so  when  the  pious  souls  have  spent 
many  ages  in  the  Elysian  fields,  having  drank 
the  Lethean  water,  they  are  believed  to  return 
to  the  world  again,  and  to  pass  into  new  bodies. 
Which  that  they  might  willingly  do,  it  was  ne- 
cessary that  they  should  forget  both  the  pleas- 
ures which  they  received  in  Elysium,  and  the 
evils  which  they  had  suffered  in  this  life. 


CHAPTER  LXVII. 


NOX. 

NOX  is  the  most  ancient  of  all  the  goddess- 
ses,  the  sister  of  Erebus,  and  daughter  of  Cha- 
os. She  had  by  her  brother  a daughter,  Death, 
and  a son,  Sleep,  who  gives  peace  of  mind  to 
mortals,  takes  away  all  care  and  solicitude,  re- 
freshes the  members  of  the  body,  wearied  with 
hard  services,  and  recruits  them  for  their  daily 
labors.  In  the  palace  of  sleep,  there  are  two 
gates ; one  of  ivory,  through  which  false  dreams 
pass ; the  other  of  horn,  which  emits  true  viSr 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


2jlQ 

Morpheus  is  the  servant  of  sleep,  who  can 
change  himself  into  all  shapes  and  figures,  and 
presents  the  dreams  to  persons  sleeping. 


CHAPTER  LXVIII. 


THE  THREE  JUDGES  OF  HELL. 

THE  three  judges  of  hell  are  Minos,  Rhad- 
amanthus,  and  ^acus,  who  for  their  singular 
prudence,  temperance  and  equity,  while  they 
flourished  in  Crete,  were  thought  worthy  to  pass 
sentence  upon  the  souls  of  the  dead. 

The  two  first  were  the  sons  of  Jupiter  by 
Europa^  the  last  by  iEagma.  When  iEacus 
alone  escaped  from  the  plague,  which  swept 
away  all  the  subjects  of  the  queen  his  mother, 
he  besought  Jupiter  his  fiither,  that  he  would 
repair  the  race  of  mankind  almost  extinct. 
Jupiter  heard  him,  and  turned  a great  multi- 
tude of  ants,  which  crept  about  in  an  old  hol- 
low oak,  into  men  called  Myrmidones,  from  a 
Greek  word  signifying  an  ant. 

Pluto  assigned  to  those  three  their  respect- 
ive provinces  thus ; that  Rhadamanthus  should 
judge  the  Asiaticks,  ^acus  the  Europeans,  each 
holding  a staff  in  his  hand  ; but  Minos,  being 
honored  with  a golden  sceptre,  and  sitting  alone, 
should  oversee  the  judgments  of  these  two ; 
and,  if  there  should  arise  any  more  doubtful 
and  difficult  case,  he  should  decide  it. 


HEATHEN  OOBg, 


OHAPTER  LXIX. 

FATES. 

THE  Fates  are  three  old  ladies,  dressed  im 
snow  white  garments  with  a purple  border,  the 
daughters  of  Nox,  and  Erebus,  or  of  Necessity^ 
or  of  the  sea,  or  of  that  rude  and  indigested 
mass,  which  the  ancients  called  Chaos.  They 
are  three  in  number,  because  time  divides  it- 
self into  past,  present,  and  future ; and  their 
names  are  Clotho,  Lachesis,  and  Atropos. 
Their  office  is  to  manage  the  fatal  thread  of 
life  ; for  Clotho  holds  the  distaff,  and  draws  the 
thread ; Lachesis  turns  the  spindle ; and  Atro- 
pos cuts  the  thread  with  scissors  ; that  is,  the 
first  calls  us  into  life ; the  second  determines 
our  lot  and  condition ; and  the  third  concludei^ 
life. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 


FURIES. 

THE  Furies  are  monsters,  with  a woman’s 
face,  but  full  of  terror,  armed  with  lighted  torch- 
es, and  frightful  with  snakes,  lashing  their 
necks  and  shoulders.  Their  names  are  Alecto, 
Tisiphone,  and  Megaera,  the  offspring  of  Nox^ 
and  Acheron,  who  are  esteemed  virgins ; be- 
cause, since  they  are  the  avengers  of  all  evil 
deodS;  they  cannot  be  corrupted  or  perverted, 
T 2 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


as  that  the  wicked  may  escape  pUDishmen  t. 
•They  are  three  in  number;  because  there  are 
as  many  passions  of  the  mind,  namely,  Anger, 
Covetousness,  and  Lust,  by  which  mortals  are 
hurried  headlong  into  all  sorts  of  wickedness  ; 
for  anger  begets  hatred  and  revenge ; Cove- 
tousness seeks  immoderate  wealth,  by  right  or 
wrong;  and  Lust  persuades  to  pursue  pleas- 
ures at  any  rate. 

The  meaning  of  the  fable  is,  that  every  one’s 
own  fraud  and  terror  disturbs  him  most ; that 
Ms  own  wickedness  torments  him ; his  madness 
affects  him  ; and  his  evil  thoughts  and  lashes 
of  conscience  affrighted  his  mind.  These  are 
the  continual  and  domestick  furies  to  the  wick- 
ed, which  both  night  and  day  exact  the  de- 
served punishment  of  all  their  crimes. 


CHAPTER  LXXI. 

THE  GIANTS,  TITANS,  titc. 

WE  pass  now  from  the  judges  to  the  crimin- 
als, represented  in  the  most  horrid  colors.  It 
will  be  sufficient  to  mention  a few  of  the  most 
noted,  and  slightly  to  touch  at  their  crimes  and 
punishments. 

The  Giants  w’^ere  descended  of  Terra  and 
the  blood  of  Coelum,  which  flowed  from  the 
dishonorable  wound,  which  his  son  Saturn  gave 
him.  They  were  very  high  in  stature,  and 
foraiitiable  with  the  feet  ef  dragons } their  looks 


HEATHEN  GOI>S, 


223 


and  bodies  were  full  of  terror,  and  their  impru- 
dence was  so  great,  that  they  strove  to  depose 
Jupiter  from  the  possession  of  heaven.  Hav- 
ing thus  engaged  with  the  celestial  gods,  they 
heaped  up  mountains  upon  mountains,  and  from 
thence  darted  trees  set  on  tire  into  heaven. 
They  hurled  also  prodigious  stones,  and  solid 
rocks,  which,  afterwards  trilling  again  upon  the 
earth,  or  into  the  sea,  became  mountains  or 
islands. 

The  battle  was  fought  in  the  Phlegrssan 
plains,  near  the  borders  of  Campania,  but  un- 
successfully by  the  giants,  who  were  destroyed 
by  the  thunder  of  Ju[dter,  the  arrows  of  A[)ol- 
lo,  or  the  arms  of  the  other  gods ; and  some 
say,  that  serpents,  and  other  venomous  and  per- 
nicious animals,  were  produced  out  of  the  blood 
of  the  slain,  that  was  spilt  upon  the  earth.  The 
most  eminent  of  these  giants  were, 

Tyfihaeus,  or  Typhon,  begotten  of  Juno  a- 
lone,  of  so  prodigious  a bulk,  that  he  was  said  to 
touch  heaven  with  his  head,  the  east  with  one 
hand,  and  the  west  with  the  other:  A hundred 
dragon’s  heads  grew  from  his  shoulders  ; his 
whole  body  was  covered  with  feathers,  scales, 
rugged  hair,  and  adders ; his  eyes  sparkling, 
and  his  mouth  belching  out  dames;  from  his 
fingers  ends  snakes  issued,  and  his  feet  had  the 
shape  and  fold’s  of  a serpent’s  body.  At  last 
he  w^as  overcome,  and  thrown  down  ; and  lest 
he  should  rise  again,  the  whole  island  of  Sicily 
was  laid  upon  him.  This  island  was  also  cal- 
led Trinacria,  because  it  bears  the  form  of  a 


■224 


HEATHBN  GODS, 


triang:le,  where  are  three  promontories,  Pelo- 
rus,  P ichynus,  and  Lilyhfens;  Ids  right  hand 
was  under  the  first,  his  left  under  the  second, 
und  his  legs  were  pressed  down  by  the  third. 

^gaeon  was  Hoother  prodigious  and  cruel 
giant,  to  whom  the  poets  v<scribe  fifty  heads, 
and  a hundred  hands  : He  hurled  a hundred 
rocks  against  Jupiter  at  one  throw  ; by  whom 
notwithstanding,  being  overcome,  he  was  bound 
in  a hundred  chains,  and  thrust  under  the  moun- 
tain iElna,  which  casts  forth  great  flames  of 
fire,  as  oft  as  he  moves  his  side. 

Aloeus,  when,  for  his  decrepid  age,  he  was 
unable  to  take  up  arms  against  the  gods  ; sent 
Othus  and  Ephiaites,  the  sons  of  his  wife  by 
Neptune,  in  his  own  stead,  to  give  assistance 
to  the  Giants  ; but  these  also  met  with  the  like 
fate,  and  suffered  punishments  in  hell  suitable 
to  their  rashness. 

Tityus  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  and  Elara, 
born  in  a subterranean  cave,  in  which  the  god 
had  hid  his  mother,  fearing  the  anger  of  Juno. 
The  time  of  her  delivery  being  come,  she 
brought  forth  a boy  of  such  wonderful  bigness, 
that  the  earth  itself  opened,  to  give  him  a pas- 
s (ge  out  of  the  cave  into  the  light  of  life; 
hence  he  was  believed  to  be  the  son  of  the 
■earth. 

He  afterwards,  by  the  persuasion  of  Juno, 
not  scrupling  to  accuse  Latona  of  adultery,  was 
struck  by  the  thunder  of  Jupiter,  and  throw  n 
down  to  hell,  where  being  stretched  on  the 
groundj  he  is  said  to  cover  siae  acre^  of  land 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


225 


with  his  body,  and  to  give  his  liver,  which 
grows  again  with  the  moon,  to  a vulture  to  be 
devoured. 

To  these  may  be  added  the  Titans,  descend- 
ed of  Terra  and  Cmium,  the  chief  of  whom 
was  Titanus  the  elder  brother  of  Saturn,  who 
made  war  against  Jupiter,  for  usurping  the 
kingdom  due  to  him  by  hereditary  right.  But 
in  this  war  he  and  his  party  were  beaten,  and 
cast  down  to  hell. 

There  were  also  others  remarkable  for  their 
crimes.  Such  was  Phlegyas,  king  of  the  Lapi- 
thae  in  Thessaly,  and  father  of  the  nymph  Co- 
ronis.  When  he  knew  that  Apollo  had  de- 
bauched his  daughter,  raging  with  anger,  he 
burnt  the  temple  of  the  god  at  Delphos,  for 
which  the  enraged  deity  shot  him  with  an  ar- 
row, and  punished  him  thus ; that  sitting  un- 
der a great  stone,  continually  threatening  his 
ruin,  he  should  ever  dread  what  he  never  suf- 
fers, and,  from  his  fear,  calf  out  to  men,  that 
they  may  learn  to  exercise  justice,  and  not 
contemn  the  gods. 

ixion  was  the  offspring  of  this  Phlegyas, 
who,  having  killed  his  sister,  and  obtained  his 
pardon  from  the  gods,  was  advanced  to  heaven. 
But  he  was  so  swelled  with  his  prosperity,  that 
he  attempted  to  offer  violence  to  Juno ; where- 
fore for  a punishment  of  his  most  insolent  at- 
tempt, Jupiter  sent  a cloud  in  the  shape  of  Ju- 
no, which  the  infatuated  lover  embraced,  and 
from  thence,  they  say,  those  abominable  mon- 
sters the  Centaurs  were  born.  When  he  was 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


32a 

thrown  down  to  the  earth  again,  and  boasted 
every  where,  that  he  had  debauched  the  queen 
of  the  gods,  he  was  struck  with  thunder  head- 
long into  hell,  where,  being  tied  to  a wheel,  he 
is  coatiaually  turned  round. 

Salmoiieus  was  king  of  Elis,  who  despised 
Singly,  but  courted  divine  honors.  That  he 
might  attain  these,  he  built  a high  brazen  bridge 
over  the  city,  and  drove  his  chariot  over  it,  to 
imitate  Jupiter’s  thunder;  from  whence  also 
lie  threw  down  lighted  torches  upon  the  people 
and  commanded  all,  that  were  touched  by  them 
lo  be  killed ; thus  imitating  the  power  and  ven- 
geance of  the  gods.  But  Jupiter,' not  sutfering 
his  insolence,  cast  him  down  headlong  from 
his  high  theatre  into  hell. 

Sisyphus  was  a famous  robber,  killed  by  The- 
seus. His  punishment  in  hell  is  to  roil  a great 
stone  to  the  too  of  a high  hill,  which  no  sooner 
touches  the  top,  than  it  is  tumbled  down  again- 

The  Belides,  so  called  from  their  grandfath- 
er Belus,  and  Danaides,  from  their  father  Da- 
naus,  were  fifty  virgin  sisters,  whom  the  father 
married  to  as  many  sons  of  his  brother.  But 
when  he  heard  from  the  Oracle  that  he  should  1 
be  cut  off  by  one  of  Jiis  sons  in  law,  he  enjoin- 
ed his  daughters,  that  in  their  wedding  night, 
being  privately  provided  with  daggers,  they 
should  kill  every  one  her  own  husband  asleep. 
Every  one  executed  the  contrived  wickedness, 
except  Hypermnestra,  who  spared  her  husband 
Lynceus,  who,  afterwards,  having  killed  Dana- 
itm,  took  his  kingdom*  The  other  wioked  srs- 


HEATHB^  GODS, 


^2^ 

ters,  for  a pimssbmeDt  of  such  impiety,  draw 
waters  out  of  a very  deep  w ell,  which  they  con- 
stantly pour  into  a tub  bored  thiough  like  a 
sieve,  till  they  fill  it;  which  attempting  in 
vain,  they  are  tormented  with  infinite  and  un- 
profitable labor. 

Tantalus  was  the  son  of  Jupiter  by  the 
nymph  Flota.  When  he  had  invited  all  the 
gods  to  a feast,  to  prove  their  divinity  by  an 
iiifalliabie  experiment,  he  set  his  own  son  Pe- 
lops  before  them  to  eat.  All  restrained  from 
the  horrid  diet,  except  Ceres,  who  eat  the 
child’s  shoulder ; but  instead  of  it,  the  gods 
substituted  and  ivory  one,  and  having  recalled 
his  soul  out  of  hell  by  Mercury,  restored  him 
to  life  again. 

This  is  the  Pelops,  who,  by  his  wife,  Hippo- 
damia,  had  Atreus  and  Thyestes ; the  latter 
whereof  was  banished,  because  he  corrupted 
his  brother’s  Avife,  and  after  he  was  recalled^ 
eat  up  those  children  begotten  in  adultery  ; for 
Atreus  had  killed  them,  and  brought  them  in 
dishes  to  the  table,  where  himself  and  his  broth- 
er were  dining  together.  W ith  the  horror  of 
which  fact,  it  is  reported,  that  the  sun  went 
backward,  having  turned  his  course  to  the  east 
again.  But  as  Tantalus  was  much  more  wick- 
ed, so  his  punishment  was  greater;  for  being 
driven  down  to  hell,  amidst  elegant  entertain- 
ments, he  is  tormented  w ith  eternal  hunger  and 
thirst ; being  forbidden  to  drink  the  waters 
flowing  up  to  his  lips,  and  obliged  to  withhold 
his  teeth  from  the  meats  put  just  to  his  moutbi 


228 


HEATHEN  GODS, 


They  say  also,  that  he  divulged  the  secrets  of 
the  gods  to  men ; and  therefore  a weighty  stone 
hangs  over  his  head,  continually  threatening 
his  destruction.  The  fable  of  Tantalus  repre- 
sents the  condition  of  a miser,  who  is  poor  in 
the  midst  of  plenty,  and  as  much  wants  the 
things  that  he  has,  as  those  which  he  has  not. 


CHAPTER  liXXir. 

CENTAURS,  HARPIES,  Sc. 

THE  Centaurs  were  the  ancient  inhabitants 
of  Thessaly,  and  the  first  who  tamed  horses, 
and  used  them  in  war ; from  whence  it  came 
to  pass,  that  being  seen  riding  on  horses,  they 
were  supposed  to  have  the  members  partly  of 
men,  partly  of  horses  : But  the  poets  say,  that 
Ixion  begat  them  of  a cloud,  which  he  believ- 
ed to  he  Juno. 

Geryon  was  said  to  have  three  bodies,  be- 
cause he  was  king  of  the  three  islands,  which 
were  called  Balearides ; or  because  there  were 
three  brothers  of  the  same  name,  so  united  in  . 
mind  and  affections,  that  they  were  believed 
to  be  animated  and  governed  by  one  soul. 
They  add,  that  he  kept  oxen,  which  devoured 
all  strangers,  and  that  they  were  guarded  by  a ^ 
dog  with  tw  o,  and  a serpent  with  seven  hea<^s. 

The  Harpyes,  so  called  from  their  rapacity, 
w^ere  born  of  Oceanus  and  Terra,  with  the  fa- 
ces of  virgins,  and  bodies  of  birds  ; their  hands 


i 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 

'were  armed  with  claws,  and  they  lived  in  the 
islands.  Their  names  were  Aello,  Ocypete 
and  Celaeno,  which  last  brought  forth  Zephyr- 
us  and  Balius  and  Xanthus  the  horses  of  A- 
chilles.  The  three  Gorgons,  Medusa,  Sthenio, 
and  Uryale,  were  the  daughters  of  Phorcus 
and  Cete,  their  heads  were  dreadful  with  vi« 
pers  instead  of  hairs,  by  which  they  struck  so 
great  terror  into  beholders,  that  they  presently 
hardened  into  stones.  By  tins  fable  they 
would  represent  the  wonderful  beauty  of  these 
sisters,  which  was  such,  that  those  who  saw 
them,  seemed  to  stand  with  amazement  in  the 
same  place,  as  if  they  were  stones. 

The  Lamiac,  or  Empus8e,as  others  call  them^ 
were  descended  of  the  same  parents  ; they  had 
only  one  eye,  and  one  tooth  common  to  them 
ail,  which  they  kept  at  home  in  a certain  little 
vessel,  and  whomsoever  of  them  went  abroad, 
she  used  (hem.  They  had  the  faces,  and  alse 
the  necks  and  breasts  of  women  ; but  their  in- 
ferior parts  *w  ere  covered  with  scales  and  end- 
ed in  serpents.  They  used  to  entice  men  by 
deceit,  and  then  devour  them ; for  with  their 
naked  breasts,  open  bosoms,  and  downcast  eyes^ 
as  it  were  out  of  modesty,  they  tempted  be- 
holders first  to  discourse,  and  then  they  flew  to 
their  throats,  strangled  and  tore  them  most 
barbarously. 

The  Chimaera  is  a monster  which  vomiba 
forth  fire,  having  the  head  and  breast  of  a lion, 
the  belly  of  a goat,  and  the  tail  of  a dragon. 
A mountain  of  Lycia,  from  whence  flames  of 


23© 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


fire  break  forth,  gave  occasion  to  the  fable; 
for  lions  dwell  in  the  top  of  it,  goats  in  the  mid- 
dle, which  abounds  with  pastures,  and  serpents 
at  the  bottom  ; and  because  Belierophon  made 
this  mountain  habitable,  he  is  said  to  have  kil- 
led the  Chirnaera. 

Sphinx  was  a monster  begotten  of  Typhon 
and  Echidna,  having  the  head  and  face  of  a 
young  woman,  the  wings  of  a bird,  and  the  body 
and  feet  of  a dog.  She  Jived  in  the  mountain 
Sphincius,  w hence  she  assaulted  all  passengers, 
and  infested  tiie  counhry  about  Thebes.  Apol- 
lo, being  consulted  concerning  her,  made  ans- 
wer, That  there  would  be  no  end  of  so  great 
an  evil,  unless  somebody  resolved  the  riddle  of 
Sphinx;  which  when  many  attempted  in  vain 
and  were  torn  by  the  monster, Greon  at  that  time 
refgning  at  Thebes,  having  published  an  edict 
through  all  Greece  promised  that  he  would  give 
his  sister  Jocasta  in  marriage  to  the  man  who 
should  explain  it.  The  riddle  w^as ; What  an- 
imal goes  upon  four  feet  in  the  morning,  upon 
two  at  noon,  and  three  at  night?  Oedipus,  en- 
couraged with  the  hope  of  the  reward,  under- 
took it,  and  happily  explained  it ; telling.  That 
the  creature  was  man,  who,  in  his  infancy, 
creeping  on  his  hands  and  feet,  is  four  footed ; 
when  age  advances,  he  is  two  footed,  because 
he  uses  no  other  support  than  that  of  his  feet ; 
but  when  he  is  old,  he  is  supported  by  the 
help  of  a statf,  and  so  may  be  said  to  be  three- 
footed. Sphinx  took  this  so  ill,  that  she  im- 
mediately cast  herself  headlong  from  a rock, 
and  died. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


231 


Oedipus  was  the  son  of  Laius,  king  of  The- 
bes. Soon  after  his  birth,  his  father  command- 
ed a soldier  to  carry  the  child  into  a wood,  and 
kill  him,  because  it  had  been  foretold  by  the 
Oracle,  that  he  should  be  cut  off  by  him ; but 
the  soldier  being  moved  with  compassion,  and 
afraid  to  embrue  his  hands  in  the  roj^ai  blood 
of  the  innocent,  having  pierced  his  feet  with 
iron,  hung  him  upon  a tree,  to  be  killed  with 
hunger.  One  of  the  shepherds  of  Polybius, 
king  of  Corinth,  found  him,  and  brought  him  to 
the  queen,  who,  wanting  children,  educated 
him  as  her  own  son.  When  he  grew  up,  being 
informed  that  he  was  not  the  son  of  Polybius, 
he  resolved  to  iind  his  parents ; and  having 
consulted  the  Oracle,  he  heard,  that  he  would 
find  his  father  in  Phocis.  While  he  goes  thith- 
er, he  met  some  travellers,  among  whom  a 
quarrel  arising,  he  killed  his  father  unknown  to 
him ; then  going  to  Athens,  he  married  his 
own  mother  Jocasta,  and  by  her  had  two  sons, 
Eteocles,  and  Polynices,  and  as  many  daught- 
ers, Antigona,  and  Ismena.  At  length  when 
by  clear  proofs  he  discovered  that  he  had  kil- 
led his  father,  and  married  his  mother,  he  was 
seized  with  so  great  madness,  that  he  pulled 
out  his  own  eyes,  and  had  put  violent  hands 
on  himself,  but  that  his  daughter  Antigona, 
prevented,  and  led  him  ptbout,  being  then  I Iind. 

Eteocles  and  Polynices,  sons  of  Oepidus  and 
Jocasta,  succeeded  their  father  in  the  govern- 
ment, on  this  condition,  that  they  should  reign 
by  turns.  But  Eteocles,  the  elder,  after  he 


:23B  HBAtHEsr  eoDs. 

had  governed  the  first  year,  refused  to  give 
place  to  his  brother  Polynices.  Hence  a griev- 
ous war  broke  out,  in  which  the  two  brothers 
engaging  in  a single  combat,  killed  one  anoth- 
er by  mutual  wounds.  They  say,  that  their 
enmity  lasted  in  their  bodies  after  death,  which 
being  placed  on  the  same  pile,  to  be  burnt  by 
the  same  fire,  the  flames  refused  to  unite,  bet 
were  divided  into  two  parts. 


CHAPTER  LiXXIII. 


BATTLE  OF  THE  GODS  AND  TITANS, 

Mfom  the  Theogony  of  Hersiod;  comprising  a 
scription  of  Tartarus. 

Ildv'TH,  A6C.  Qioy — 666. 

NOW  rings  th’  expanse  of  heav’n  with  dire  alaniis^ 
And  ail  the  Gods,  embattled,  rush  to  arms ; 

Th’  enormous  Titans  of  gigantic  size. 

Burst  their  dark  prisons  and  attempt  the  skies; 

Whilst  there,  set  free  from  Erebus  and  Nigh’t 
The  Giant  brothers  aid  the  Gods  in  fight. 

His  hundred  hands  each  tow’ring  monster  rears. 

And  frooi  his  fifty  dreadful  heads  he  stares : 

Wiiile  the  dread  brotherhood  thus  sternly  frown, 

A hundred  rocks  at  once  by  each  are  thrown : 

The  Titans  rush,  with  maddest  fury  driven, 

Assault  the  Guds,  and  urge  the  war  on  heav’n : 

While  from  the  groaning  earth  the  rocks  rebound, 
Heav’n  shakes,  and  ocean  trembles  all  around ; 

At  each  dread  blow,  shakes  the  eternal  poles ; 

And  Hell  adrighted,  agitated  rolls ; 

Such  awful  noise  profoundest  Nature  shocks, 

Whilst  hills  meet  niils,  and  rocks  encounter  rocks 
Tumultuous  clamours  rise  through  ^rth,  air,  keav'R; 
Afid  now  to  shake  the  skies  to  War  is  giv’n* 

Tliiea  in  aB  Idsterrers  dmtd 


HEATHEN  COBS. 


23.3 

Olympus  and  the  hills  to  tremble  made ; 

He  hurls  ten  thousand  light’nings  through  tlie  aii'j 
The  forky  bolts  with  reddest  fury  glare : 

Their  horrid  gleam  to  night  extends  the  day ; 

Wliile  all  tlieir  flashing  terrors  they  display. 

In  wrath  he  moves,  redoubles  blows  on  blows, 

Burn  all  the  groves,  the  earth  with  fire  now  glows ; 

The  waters  hiss  with  fire,  and  boil  the  floods. 

And  Ocean  smokes  from  ail  its  deep  abodes ; 

The  murky  clouds  of  war  impel  the  night, 

Save  when  Jove’s  forl^y  iightihngs  give  their  light ; 

Heav’n  flames,  Earth  groans,  and  even  Chaos  buriis. 

When  he  Earth’s  hills  and  shining  tow’rs  inurns  j 
When  the  huge  Earth  is  to  the  center  torn. 

And  each  disruptive  chasm  admits  the  morn. 

New  horrors  now  appear  of  ev’ry  kind. 

Clouds  dash  on  clouds  before  the  stormy  wind ; 

Which  the  huge  drifts  of  sand  in  columns  rear, 

And  half  the  deserts  mount  th’  encumber’d  air. 

The  lightnings  fly,  the  bellowing  tempest  soars, 

Clouds  the  bright  skies  involve,  iind  thunder  roars. 
Stupendous  were  the  deeds  of  lieav’n-horn  might ; 

What  could  it  less  when  gods  contend  in  fight? 

Now  heav’n  the  war  fierce  urges  on  its  foes, 

The  Giant  pow’rs  soon  feel  unusual  w oes. 

Aegeon  and  Gyges  stalk  with  haughty  stride. 

And  Cottus  rends  up  hills  with  Giant  pride : 

These  hurl’d  at  once  upon  the  1 itan  bands, 

Three  hundred  mountains  from  three  hundred  hands  I 
Thus  overthrown  and  overwhelm’d,  they  bound. 

The  Giant  host  beneath  the  groaning  ground, 

In  chaiiis  infrangible,  as  far  they  lie 
From  earth,  as  earth  is  from  the  star-clad  sky ! 

Nine  times  the  space  that  measures  night  and  day. 

An  anvil  falling  through  th’  ethereal  way, 

Fierce  rushing  through  th’  expanse  with  whirling  rounds. 
Scarce  in  that  time  would  reach  th’  infernal  hounds* 

An  iron  wall  built  of  prodigious  height, 

The  dungeons  fix  in  caves  of  threefold  night. 

O’er  the  dire  horrors  of  th’  eternal  shade. 

The  huge  foundations  of  the  earth  are  laid ; 

There  by  stern  Jove,  in  strongest  fetters  bound, 

Th’  afflicted  Titans  groan  in  pains  profound : 

Oh  seats  of  woe ! far,  far  from  cheerful  day, 

Gulfy,  unpassable,  the  boundless  w ay ! 

Far  o’er  those  realms  a brazen  palace  stands. 

With  gates  of  brass,  the  work  of  Neptune’s  hands  j 
From  Chaos  to  old  Oceaii’s  verge  it  swells. 

Where  stern  Aegeon  (with  the  Giants)  dwells ; 

Jove’s  watchful  guards ! hence  ’tis  the  fountains  rise, 

Which  ooze  through  earth,  or  exhale  tow’rd  the  skies  # 

That  rumbling  murmur  through  the  realms  belotv. 

Or  feed  the  rivers  where  the  Oceans  flow ; 

Pread  iwrrors  all  the  cUre  ahpdes  iafestj 

V 2 


i^EATHEN  60DI(. 

Gloomy  and  feii,  which  ev’n  the  Gods  detest ; 

Waste,  void  and  wide  appears  th^  gulf  profound,  , 
And  a year’s  journey  scarce  can  reach  the  bound  ! 
There  in  wild  whirls  appears  the  god  of*  storms^ 
Annoys  the  wand‘rer,  and  the  night  deforms : 

Th'  immortal  pow’rs  behold  with  wild  aifright,^ 

Tb’  enormous  chasm,  and  close  it  up  in  nightt 

Hence  to  huge  Atlas'  giant  limbs  are  giv’n, 

To  rear  the  golden  spheres  and  prop  the  heavn^ 

Here  sable  Night,  and  here  the  radiant  Day, 
Alternate  lodge,  alternate  is  their  sway. 

A brazen  bound  divides  the  varying  pow’rs, 

When  here  Night  rests,  the  Day  controuls  the  hours^;' 
And  when  Night,  issuing,  shews  the  starry  skies, 

Hay  from  her  dark  domain  obsequious  dies  ; 

SJie,  in  her  turn,  o’er  earth  with  radiance  gleams, 
And  from  her  lamp  pours  forth  the  cheering  beams : 
But  Night  and  Soinnus,  drowsy,  issue  forth, 

Heath’s  brethren,  and  o’erwhelm  the  spacious  earth  f 
From  hell’s  foul  woinb  these  pow’rs  resistless  sprung^ 
The  fell  Tartarean  horrors  nurs’d  among. 

Remote  from  where  the  flaming  wheels  of  Day, 
Mount  high  in  heav’n,  or  gild  the  western  way  j 
With  drowsy  footsteps,  issuing  from  the  deep. 

O'er  Earth’s  wide  surface  reigns  the  god  of  sleep ; 
Friendly  to  life ! Biit  Death  relentless  wears, 

A flinty  heart,  deriding  human  cares  ; 

He  makes  his  prey  of  man,  the  race  unblest ! 

And  all  the  immortal  gods  his  power  detest. 

The  daring  host  of  Giant  Titans  fell ; 

Hurl’d  by  Jove’s  thunders  down  to  deepest  hell. 
Maternal  woes  then  felt  the  pregnant  earth, 

And  all  her  frame  shook  with  the  monstrous  birth. 
Hence  the  gigantic  Typhoeus,  bold  and  young. 

From  Earth  and  Tartarus  the  monster  sprimg ; 

For  gods  a match  in  fight ! aloft  he  spreads 
From  lus  gigantic  form,  an  hundred  heads ; 

And  from  his  hundred  mouths,  with  vengeance  dire. 
Throws  poisonous  foam,  and  darts,  and  murky  fire.' 
With  frowns  terrific  his  huge  eyebrows  scow'l, 

And,  red  as  flame,  his  fiery  eyeballs  roll ; 

From  ev’ry  crest,  where’er  he  turns,  flames  flow, 

The  Giant  burns,  and  flashing  splendors  glow  ; 

His  hundred  tongues  produce  so  dire  a noise, 

The  skies  seem  frighted  with  his  thund’ring  voic^ 
Fiercely  at  times  against  the  heav’ns  he  arms, 

The  skies  he  shakes,  and  ev’n  the  gods  alarms  r 
He  roars  like  bulls  advancing  to  the  fight ; 

And  now,  like  lions,  hideous  makes  the  night ; 

The  Giants  hiss  like  snakes,  or  like  wolves  yell. 

The  rocks  and  mountains  shake  to  deepest  hell: 

They  ’gainst  th’  immortal  pow’rs  defiance  hurl’d. 

And  bald  Rebellion’s  bloody  flag  unfurl’d; 


HmTHEK  ©ODS, 


23.5 


thought  Typhotui  gains  the  heav’nly  towels. 

Ai  d s.^es  ifi  ciiaiiis  th  - great  celestial  powers. 

But  fc*r  and  wide  tji’  Ainiighty  arms  ox  Jove, 

Caus’d  tmiiidcrs  roll,  and  iorked  lightnings  drove: 

To  crush  the  seeds  oi  this  most  loul  revolt, 

O’er  earth  and  seas — he  hurls  the  danang  bolt; 

Amidst  his  lightnings  sternly  frowiis  the  God ; 

Olympus  shakes  and  all  the  mountains  nod. 

Fierce  liames  involvi^  the  poles,  devour  the  ground. 
Earth  shakes  the  Ocean  from  the  deptlis  ixrofound. 

With  thimd’ring  sound,  fircs  from  I'yphoeus  hasi^ 
Storms  rattle  and  the  ancient  mountains  crash. 

The  coiiliagration  rolls  below,  above, 

And  seems  to  threaten  ev’n  the  throne  of  Jove : 

Earth  totters  from  the  fiery  deluge,  fell. 

And  Pluto  quakes,  with  all  his  ghosts,  in  hell. 

E’en  the  pale  Titans,  ciiaiii’d  on  living  fire, 

Thi.  Wi  11  kiiown  lightnings  to  escape  desire ; 

Now  fidi  of  wrath  great  Jove  applies  the  rod ; 

His  loudest  thunders  now  proclaim  the  God, 

Gloomy  he  rushes  from  tif  Olympian  height. 

And  curs’d  Typhoeiis  feds  his  godlike  might: 

Now  sink  he  must,  though  he  for  mercy  call ; 

Earth  groans  and  quakes  beneath  th’  enormous  fall. 

But  still  the  lightnings  of  th’  Almighty  play ; 

They  burst  the  Earth,  and  in  it  let  the  day ; 

The  kintUing  earth,  melts  inward  in  her  caves, 

And  floats  with  hissing,  fierce,  metalline,  weaves* 

As  from  the  furnace  fusile  iron  flows, 

Or  melted  ore  w ith  bright  effulgence  glows. 

When  Vulcan  frames  the  bolts  of  Jove’s  dread  ire. 

In  blazing  channels  rolls  the  liquid  fire ; 

While  earth  thus  melts,  and  while  her  streams  thus  fioty, 
Jove  plung’d  the  Giant  to  the  realms  below\ 

Forth  from  Typhoeus  sprung  the  winds  that  wing 
-The  storms,  and  shrilly  through  the  ether  sing : 

But  from  the  gods  descend  and  issue  forth ; 

The  East,  the  West,  the  South,  and  sterner  North ; 
These  send  the  breeze,  soft  as  the  voice  of  love, 

Sport  on  the  seas,  and  w^anton  through  the  grove, 

I'hey  cool  the  sultry  air  with  gentle  gales. 

Urge  the  tall  ships  and  swell  tlieir  spreading  sails. 

The  rest  in  whirlwinds  fly,  and  soundiixg  storm 
The  wild  waves  toss,  and  heav’ns  calm  face  deform.: 
Dreadful  to  man  the  raving  ocean  roars, 

A.nd  the  bilg’d  navies  scatters  round  the  shores; 

O’er  the  wide  earth  they,  thund’ring,  bend  their  w’^ay ; 
Grass,  herbs,  and  flow’rs  aiid  trees,  become  their  prey  : 
While  the  vain  boasts  of  man,  the  dome  and  tower, 

Torn  from  their  base,  confess  th’  o’erwhelming  powder! 

Thus  heav’n  contends,  nor  yet  contends  in  vain. 
Against  the  Giant,  and  the  Titan  train ; 

Again  in  peace  the  blissful  gods  above. 

Am  ail  the  throaes  of  heav’n,  ©bey  their  J»v^; 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


’236 

CHAPTER  LXXIV. 

THE  FIETUES  WHICH  WERE  WOR^ 
SHIPPED  AS  DEITIES. 

VIRTUE. 

( 

THOSE  goddesses,  whose  images  are  small  , 
and  all  painted  in  one  picture,  are  the  virtues;  J 
by  whose  favor  not  only  the  Dii  Adscrlptitii, 
but  all  the  other  gods  were  advanced  to  heav- 
en, and  honored  with  divine  worship.  There 
are  among  them  some  vices,  to  which  also  al- 
tars were  dedicated,  which,  like  shades,  in- 
crease the  lustre  of  the  virtues,  whose  bright- 
ness is  doubled  by  the  reflection  of  the  colors. 
The  ancients  worshipped  not  only  the  several 
species  of  virtues,  but  also  virtue  herself  in  the 
habit  of  a matron,  sitting  on  a square  stone. 
Marcus  Marcellus  dedicated  a temple  to  her, 
near  which  he  built  another  to  Honor.  By 
this  was  signified,  that  by  virtue  the  way  is 
opened  to  true  honor. 

FAITH 

FAITH  had  a temple  at  Rome,  near  the 
Capitol,  which  Numa  Pompilius  consecrated  to 
her.  The  sacrifices  of  this  goddess  were  per- 
formed without  slaughter,  or  blood ; and  her 
priests  had  their  heads  wrapped,  and  hands 
covered  with  white  cloth  f because  Faith  ought 


HEATHEN  GOBS. 


to  be  close  and  secret.  Her  symbol  was  a 
white  dog,  which  is  a faithful  creature,  and  two 
virgins  joining  their  right  hands,  whereby  they 
engaged  their  faith  for  future  friendship. 


HOPE. 


HOPE  had  a temple  in  the  Herb  market,  at 
Rome  which,  being  struck  with  lightning  was 
burnt  down.  She  was  represented  as  a woman 
standing,  with  her  left  hand  lightly  holding  up 
the  skirts  of  her  garment,  and  in  her  right  a 
plate,  in  which  was  placed  a Ciborium,  fash- 
ioned to  the  likeness  of  a flower,  with  this  in- 
scription, SPES,  P.  R.  The  hope  of  the  Roman 
people. 


JUSTICE. 


JUSTICE  was  painted  with  a virgin  counr 
tcnance,  a piercing  eye,  severe  brow,  her  asr 
pact  awful,  noble,  and  venerable. 


PIETY. 


PIETY  had  a chapel  dedicated  to  her  by 
Attilius  the  Duumvir,  in  that  place  wherein 
the  woman  dwelt,  who  fed  her  mother  in  pris- 
on by  the  breast.  This  extraordinary  piety 


238 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


of  the  daughter  gained  the  mother’s  freedom, 
and  afterwards  they  were  both  maintained  at 
the  public  expense,  and  the  place  was  conse- 
crated to  the  goddess  Piety.  There  is  a like 
example  in  the  Grecian  history,  of  a certain 
woman  who  nourished  Cymon,  her  aged  father 
in  the  same  manner. 


MERCY. 


MERCY  was  worshipped  by  the  Athenians, 
who  erected  an  altar  to  her,  and  made  her  tem- 
ple an  asylum,  to  which  the  miserable  and 
fortunate  might  fly. 


CLEMENCY. 


CLEMENCY  was  reputed  a goddess;  but 
nothing  memorable  occurs  concerning  her,  un- 
less that  a temple  was  erected  to  the  clemency 
of  CaBsar. 


CHASTITY. 

CHASTITY  had  two  temples  dedicated  to 
her,  the  one  to  Pudicitia  Patricia,  the  other  to 
Pudicitia  Plebeia,  built  by  Virginia,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Aulus  ; for  when  the  noble  ladies  had 
banished  her  from  the  sacrifices  of  this  goddess. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


239 


because,  being  of  a Patrician  sbe  was 

Diarried  to  a Plebian,  she  invited  ill  the  Ple- 
bian  matrons  to  her  new  chapel ; and  having 
dedicated  the  altar  to  Pudicitia  Plebeia,  she 
addressed  them  thus:  I beg ^ that  there  may  he 
the  same  emulation  of  chastity  among  you  mat- 
rons^ as  of  bravery  among  the  men  ; that  you 
worship  this  goddess  as  zealously^  as  they  adore 
honor  ; and  that  this  altar  be  frequented  by  pur- 
ei'  and  chaster  votaries^  than  that  of  Pudicitia^ 
if  it  be  possible.  The  rites  of  both  were  the 
same  ; and  no  matron,  except  of  an  approved 
chastity,  and  who  had  been  married  only  to 
one  man,  had  leave  of  sacrificing. 


TRUTH. 


TRUTH,  the  mother  of  Virtue,  was  dressed 
in  snow  while  garments;  her  countenance  was 
serene,  courteous,  cheerful,  and  yet  modest; 
she  is  the  pledge  of  honesty,  the  bulwark  of 
honor,  and  the  light  and  ornament  of  humiiH 
society:  She  was  commonly  accounted  the 
daughter  of  Time  and  Saturn ; because  truth 
is  discovered  in  the  course  of  time ; but  De- 
mocritus feigns,  that  she  lies  hid  in  the  bottom 
a well. 


24^ 


HEATHEN  COD^* 


UNDERSTA  NDING. 

UNDERSTANDING  was  coDsecrated  hj 
the  Romans,  that  she  might  give  them  a sound 
mind.  An  altar  was  builf  to  her  m the  capi^ 
tol,  by  Marcus  ^milius. 

CONCORD. 

CONCORD  had  many  altars  dedicated  Up 
her  at  several  times.  Her  image  held  a bowl 
In  the  right  hand,  and  a horn  of  plenty  or  a 
sceptre,  from  which  fruits  seemed  to  sproi^t 
forth  in  the  left.  Her  symbols  were  two  right 
hands  joined,  and  a pomegranate. 


PEACE. 

PEACE  was  honored  at  Athens  with  an  ah 
tar  ; and  at  Rome  had  a most  magnificent  tem- 
ple in  the  Forum,  begun  by  Claudius,  and  fin- 
ished by  Vespasian,  w hich  afterwards  was  •on- 
sumed  by  fire,  under  the  emperor  Commotlus. 
She  was  described  in  the  form  of  a matron^ 
holding  ears  of  corn  in  her  hand,  and  crowned 
with  olive,  or  laurel,  and  sometimes  with  roser. 
Her  symbol  was  a Cadneeus. 


HEATHEJ?  GOBS;. 


HEALTH. 

HEALTH  was  held  in  such  honor  among 
the  Romans,  that  several  holy  days  were  ap- 
pointed, in  which  they  worshipped  her.  Her 
image  was  the  figure  of  a woman  sitting  on  a 
throne,  and  holding  a bowl  in  her  right  hand* 
Hard  by  stood  an  altar,  to  which  a twining  ser* 
pent  lifted  up  its  head.  In  the  same  place  wag 
heretofore  celebrated  the  Augurium  Salutis, 
which  was  a kind  of  divination,  whereby  it  was 
inquired,  if  the  gods  would  permit,  that  the 
people  should  pray  for  peace* 


FIDELITY. 


FIDELITY  also  got  a temple  and  an  altar^ 
and  had  suitable  sacrifices  performed  to  her^» 
She  seemed  a venerable  matron,  sitting  on  a 
throne,  holding  in  her  right  hand  a caduceus,, 
^nd  in  her  left  a horn  of  plenty. 


LIBERTY. 


LIBERTY,  after  the  kings  were  expelled, 
was  worshipped  by  the  Romans  as  a goddess, 
and  a temple  was  dedicated  to  her.  Cicero 
says,  that  Clodius  also  consecrated  bis  owix 
house  to  this  deity. 


24Z 


HEATHEN  (JODi 


MONEY. 

MONEY  was  also  invoeated,  that  they 
snight  be  rich  ; and,  indeed,  man>  at  this  time, 
worship  gold  and  silver,  make  vows,  and  raise 
altars  to  Mammon,  that  they  may  fill  thei? 
eolfers. 


MIRTH. 


MIRTH  was  likewise  consecrated,  and  Ly- 
curgus  ridiculously  erected  an  image  among 
the  Lacedemonians  to  that  god.  The  Thessa- 
lians of  the  city  Hypata  every  year  sacrificed 
to  him  with  great  jollity. 


GOOD  GENIUS. 


QOOD  GENIUS  had  a temple  in  the  way 
that  leads  to  the  mountain  Maenalus ; and  at 
the  end  of  supper,  they  offered  him  a cup  filled 
with  wme  and  water. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


240 


OHAPTER  LXXT. 

TChe  VICES  to  which  propitiary  sacrifices  were 
offered, 

THE  VICES  which  oppose  our  happiness, 
and  often  occasion  mischiefs  and  dangers,  are 
the  evil  deities. 

ENVY. 

ENVY  was  a goddess,  as  Pallas  herself  con^ 
fessed,  when,  meeting  her  at  her  house,  she  re- 
quested, that  she  would  infect  a certain  lady, 
called  Aglauros,  with  her  poison.  Ovid  paints 
this  goddess,  and  describes  her  house  in  ele- 
gant verse. 


CONTUMELY  AND  IMPUDENCE. 

CONTUMELY  and  IMPUDENCE  were 
worshipped  at  Athens,  and  represented  by  a 
partridge,  a very  impudent  bird. 


CALUMNY. 

CALUMNY,  to  whom  the  same  Athenians 
raised  an  altar,  was  painted  thus  by  Apelles. 
There  sat  a man,  having  long  and  open  ears. 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


M4 

inviting  calumny,  with  his  hand  held  out ; and 
two  women,  ignorance  and  suspicion,  attend 
him.  Before  him  calumny  breaks  out  into  a 
fury ; with  a countenance  comely  and  beauti- 
ful indeed  ; but  with  sparkling  eyes,  and  a face 
inflamed  with  anger;  in  her  left  hand  she  held 
a lighted  torch,  and  with  her  right  twists  a 
young  man’s  neck,  pouring  forth  his  prayers, 
and  holding  up  his  hands  to  the  gods.  Envy, 
pale  and  dirty,  goes  before : Fraud  and  Conspir- 
acy at  her  side ; and  behind  follows  Repent- 
ance, clad  in  mourning  and  torn  garments, 
turning  back  her  head,  to  find  Truth  coming 
^fter  with  a slow  pace. 


FRAUD. 

FRAUD  was  described  with  a human  face, 
the  rest  of  the  body  resembling  a serpent,  whose 
tail  ended  in  the  sting  of  the  scorpion.  She 
uses  to  swim  through  the  river  Cocytus,  her 
head  only  appearing  above  water. 


DISCORD. 


DISCORD  is  described  by  Petronius,  rising 
up  from  the  Stygian  Lake,  with  torn  hair,  and 
clotted  blood  upon  her  visage ; her  eyes  sent 
forth  floods  of  tears ; her  teeth  were  covered 
'^ith  rust  j her  tongue  flowed  with  gore ; her 


HEATHEN  GOBS* 


lead  Avas  beset  with  snakes ; and  being  cloth- 
ed with  tattered  garments,  she  brandished  a 
bloody  lamp  in  her  trembling  right  hand. 


FURY. 

FURY  is  described,  sometimes  chained,  and 
roaring ; sometimes  raging  and  revelling,  with 
loose  chains.  Virgil  paints  her  setting  on  a 
heap  of  arms,  bound  with  a hundred  chains, 
and  bellowing  with  her  bloody  mouth.  Petro- 
nius  describes  her  loose,  with  her  chains  bro- 
ken, lifting  up  her  bloody  head  on  high.  She 
covers  her  head,  wounded  in  a thousand  places, 
with  a bloody  helmet,  and  carries  a burning 
brand  in  her  hand. 


CHAPTER  liXXVr. 


DEITIES  having  both  good  and  bad  qualities^ 
FAME. 

FAME  had  temples  dedicated  to  her.  Vir- 
gil and  Ovid  give  a very  elegant  description  of 
her.  They  say,  that  Terra,  enraged  against 
the  gods,  brought  forth  this  monstrous  phantom, 
sister  to  Cosus  and  Enceladus.  She  was  of  a 
prodigious  size,  having  all  her  body  covered 
with  feathers,  or  rather  wi»§s,  nader  whicfc 


HEATHEN  GOBS, 


were  placed  inriomerabie  eyes:  She  had  al- 
most an  infinite  imm  of  ears,  mouths,  and 
tongues.  She  flies  by  night  through  the  dark 
shade  of  the  earth,  and  in  the  mkldle  of  heav* 
eo  ; in  the  day  she  sbs  a say,  either  on  the  top 
of  a high  house,  or  on  lofty  lowers,  aid  affrights 
great  cities  ; and  is  as  tenacious  of  a lie  ag  pf 
truth. 


FORTUNE. 


FORTUN'E  was  reputed  a goddess,  though 
she  comes  both  to  the  good  and  bad  without 
any  judgment.  She  is  so  blind,  that  she  runs 
indUTereiitJy  to  any  body,  often  pass  ng  by  her 
own  worshippers,  and  favoring  those  who  de- 
s JS0  her;  yet  her  temples  and  names  were  al- 
most innumerable. 


FEUER. 


FEVER,  also  fear  and  paleness,  poverty  and 
art,  necessity  and  violence,  and  tempest  too^ 
were  esteemed  deities,  and  had  altars  and  tem- 
ples dedicated  to  them. 

SILENCE. 

BOTH  the  Romans  and  Epyptians  worship- 
ped the  gods  and  goddesses  of  Silence.  The 


248 


HEATHEN  GODS. 


Latins  particularly  performed  sacrifices  to  An- 
geroma  and  Tacita,  and  the  Egyptians  to  Har- 
pocratis.  That  god  was  painted  naked,  in  the 
ligure  of  a boy,  crowned  with  an  Egptian  mi- 
tre, holding  in  his  left  hand  a horn  of  plenty, 
and,  with  a finger  of  the  right  put  on  his  lips, 
as  it  were  commanding  silence. 

The  Harpocratis  worshipped  by  the  Egyp- 
tians, as  the  god  of  Silence,  was  the  sou  of  isis. 
They  oifered  such  fruits  as  lentils  and  pulse  to 
him ; and  consecrated  to  him  the  tree  called 
Perse ; because  the  leaves  of  it  were  shaped 
like  a tongue,  and  the  fruit  like  a heart.  His 
Egyptian  mitre,  ended  in  points  like  two  buds. 
In  some  statues  a figure  in  his  right  hand  rest- 
ed on  his  lips,  as  if  enjoining  Silence.  The 
images  of  Angeronia  and  Tacita,  stood  upon 
the  altar  of  the  goddess  V olupia.  Their  mouths 
were  tied  up  and  sealed.  This  signifies  that 
they  should  endure  their  cares  and  treubles^ 
without  murmuring. 


APPENDIX. 


EXPLANATION 

OP  THE 

CONSTELLATIONS,  PLANETS^ 
TIMES  AND  SEASONS. 
BEPRESENTED  ON  THE  FARNESE  GLOBE. 


For  the  more  perfect  understanding  of  the  poets  and  (m» 
dent  historians^  we  have  thought  it  necessary  to  add^  in 
an  Appendix,  a brief  account  of  the  Farnese  Globe  ; 
which  is  the  most  ancient  work  of  that  kind  in  the  world, 
and  contains  all  the  Constellations  which  were  known 
by  the  poets  of  antiquity.  It  is  true  the  Roman  poets 
do  not,  all  of  them,  like  Manilius,  treat  professedly  of 
the  constellations,  yet  there  are  numerous  expressions 
and  allusions  in  them  which  cannot  be  fully  understood 
without  an  explanation,  such  at  that  which  will  here 
given. 


CONSTELLATIONS. 

THOUGH  the  stars  were  thought  by  the 
ancients  to  be  innumerable,  yet  the  consteda* 
feoiis  on  their  globes  were  under  fifty.  Of  these 


250 


APPENDIX. 


the  Farnese  globe  (though  much  injured  by 
time,  or  its  keepers)  has  preserved  to  us  above 
forty.  The  principal  lines,  as  the  arctic  and 
antarctic  circles,  the  tropics,  the  equator,  and 
zodiac,  are  marked  out  on  this  globe,  but  with- 
out any  stars.  To  avoid  the  confusion  that  so 
many  figures  may  be  apt  to  give,  the  constella- 
tions to  the  north  of  the  zodiac  are  first  consid- 
ered ; then  those  on  the  zodiac  itself,  and  last- 
ly those  to  the  south  of  the  zodiac. 

The  great  Serpent  (or  Draco)  by  the  north- 
ern pole,  spreads  itself  into  both  hemispheres, 
and  roils  according  to  the  poets,  between,  as 
well  as  round,  the  two  Bears. 

The  Arcti  (or  Bears)  are  lost  on  the  Farnese 
globe.  Belice,  or  the  greater  Rear,  had  its 
tail  towards  the  head  of  Cy  nosura,  or  the  lesser 
Bear.  Before  the  discovery  of  the  comi)ass, 
these  were  the  great  directors  in  navigation. 

Bootes  was  behind  the  greater  Bear,  or 
Charle’s  wain  (so  called  from  the  Roman  Plaus- 
tra)  and  appears  in  the  act  of  driving  it  on. 
He  is  dressed  like  a countryman,  in  a short  tu- 
nic, with  his  legs  and  arms  bare,  and  the  pe- 
dum pastorale  in  ids  right  hand.  Arcturus  was 
©n  his  breast. 

Corona,  or  Ariadne’s  crown,  at  Bootes’s  right 
hand,  is  a wreath  of  flowers  and  leaves  fasten- 
ed with  a ribband,  and  makes  such  a circular 
appearance  in  the  heavens,  though  it  is  turned 
to  a Gothic  crown  on  our  globes. 

Engoiuisis,  or  Ingeniciilus,  is  so  called  from 
his  kneeling,  the  reason  of  whieh  was  unknown 


APPENDIX. 


251 


in  the  times  of  Manilius,  and  even  of  Aratus. 
Avieniis  will  have  it  to  be  Hercules  almost 
tired  with  his  long  hght  with  the  serpent  that 
ke[)t  the  garden  or  the  Hesperides ; in  memory 
of  which  Jupiter  placed  his  figure  in  the  heav- 
ens with  his  heel  bruising  the  great  serpent’s 
head.  He  is  quite  naked. 

Ophiuchus  or  Serpentinus,  is  also  naked,  and 
holds  another  serpent  in  his  hands.  Manilius 
speaks  of  him  and  the  serpent  as  fighting  to- 
gether, and  that  so  equally,  that  the  combat 
must  last  for  ever.  The  old  globe  is  not  so 
picturesque ; for  the  serpent  in  his  hands  seems 
rather  to  threaten  Bootes  than  the  person  that 
holds  it. 

The  figure  of  Lyra  shows  that  the  lyra  ami 
testudo  of  old  were  the  same,  for  the  bottom 
part  of  it  consists  of  the  entire  shell  of  a tor- 
toise. It  has  only  six  strings,  but  there  is  a 
space  for  a seventh,  which  seems  to  be  defac- 
ed, or  perhaps  was  omitted  in  memory  of  the 
Pleiad  that  has  disappeared  ; for  it  had  seven 
at  first,  in  allusion  to  the  number  of  the  Plei- 
ades. 

Aquila,  just  under  Lyra,  is  described  as  fly- 
ing with  the  fulmen  in  his  talons ; whereas 
here  he  is  without  it,  and  standing  in  a quiet 
posture,  ii  is  head  is  in  the  other  hemisphere^ 
near  the  Dolphin. 

The  figure  of  the  Dolphin  is  spoken  of  as 
very  a[)tly  marked  out  by  the  dis;  osition  of  its 
stars.  From  an  expression  in  Manilius,  it  may 
be  inferred,  that  the  Dolphin  on  the  ancient 


APPENDIX. 


25€ 

painted  globes  was  of  a dark  colour.  On  suck 
a ground,  the  stars  (when  represented)  must 
have  appeared  to  great  advantage. 

Cygnus,  both  here  and  by  the  poets,  is  rep*^ 
resented  in  the  attitude  of  flying.  Before  the 
left  wing  is  a line,  almost  worn  out  in  the  Far- 
nese  globe,  which  may  be  the  Sagitta,  as  it  is 
said  to  be  just  by  Cygnus.  All  that  is  observ- 
ed of  so  plain  a figure,  is,  that  it  was  marked 
out  by  the  stars  contained  in  it. 

The  five  next  constellations  all  relate  to  one 
another.  Pegasus,  or  the  flying  horse,  on 
which  Perseus  rode,  is  described,  as  he  is  here, 
in  a rapid  flying  posture,  though  there  is  but 
half  his  figure.  His  mane  is  described  by  Avi- 
enus^  like  the  manes  of  the  two  fine  horses  on 
Monte  Cavallo  at  Rome. 

Andromeda  extends  her  arms,  and  is  descri- 
bed as  chained  to  a rock  even  in  the  heavens^ 
with  grief  and  fear  expressed  in  her  face;  and 
is  remarked  as  turning  from  her  barbarous  moth- 
er, as  on  the  globe. 

Perseus  holds  his  swwd  in  one  hand,  witk 
the  head  of  Medusa  in  the  other,  which  agrees 
with  the  poetical  accounts ; only  there  should 
be  a hook  on  his  sword,  which  perhaps  is  ef^ 
faced. 

Cassiopeia,  the  mother  of  Andromeda,  if 
seated  on  the  arctic  circle,  and  represented 
with  a disturbed  air,  as  Cepheus  her  father  is 
with  a severe  one.  They  retain  the  same 
character  in  the  heavens  as  they  had  upoft 
©arih. 


APPENDIX. 


253 


The  Deltoton  or  Triangle,  is  quite  effaced, 
or  was  omitted.  It  was  not  capable  of  any  po- 
etical description.  It  is  said  to  lie  in  the  space 
between  Andromeda,  Perseus  and  Aries,  which 
space  is  of  a triangular  form. 

Ericthonius,  or  Heniochus,  commonly  called 
Auriga,  or  the  Charioteer,  appears  without  his 
chariot,  though  in  the  posture  of  driving  one. 
In  his  right  hand  he  holds  his  whip,  as  in  his 
left  were  the  Hpedi  and  Capella,  which  he  held 
before  his  breast,  and  therefore  are  not  seen,  as 
his  back  is  turned  towards  us.  Probably  in 
some  ancient  globes  his  chariot  was  represent- 
ed too. 

These  are  all  the  northern  constellations  on 
the  globe.  The  signs  of  the  zodiac  are  next  to 
be  considered. 

Cancer,  according  to  Manilius,  was  repre- 
sented without  eyes ; so  that  what  is  seen  on 
the  globe  is  only  the  socket  for  them.  The 
figures  w ere  generally  represented  on  the  an- 
cient globes  as  alive  and  in  action ; for  which 
reason  Cancer,  when  painted,  was  of  a black 
color,  though  the  moderns  paint  him  red,  as  if 
boiled. 

Leo  is  described  as  furious  and  roaring,  and 
is  represented  on  the  globe.  He  is  said  to  be 
the  Nemaean  lion  slain  by  Hercules. 

Virgo  has  ears  of  corn  in  her  hand,  with  the 
virgin’s  attribute,  the  zone.  She  is  so  describ-^ 
ed  by  Manilius,  who  says,  her  look  is  chaste 
and  severe ; but  as  her  back  is  towards  us,  this 
is  not  seen.  She  is  most  usually  represented 

X 


254 


APPENDIX. 


with  wings,  ami  the  com  in  her  hand  in  the 
painted  globes  was  colored  as  very  ripe. 

Libra,  or  the  Balance,  is  said  to  have  been 
originally  held  up  by  the  Scorpius,  who  ex- 
tended his  claw  s beyond  Us  limits  for  that  pur- 
pose, but  that  a little  before  Augustus’s  deaths 
Scorpius  w as  made  to  contract  his  claw  s ; and 
a new  figure  (probably  of  Augustus  himself) 
was  introduced  to  hold  the  balance.  On  the 
Farnese  globe  it  is  held  by  Scorpius,  which 
shews  its  antiquity.  In  several  medals  it  is 
held  by  a man,  su[)posed  to  be  Augustus. 

Manilius  alludes  to  both  these  ways  of  hold- 
ing the  balance.  The  old  poets  agree  in  its 
being  held  up  (though  the  moderns  represent 
it  without  any  supporter^  and  with  both  scales 
exactly  even,  w^hich  seems  to  refer  to  the  e- 
quality  of  the  day  and  night  when  the  sun  en- 
ters this  sign. 

Scorpius,  according  to  the  poets,  w^as  drawn 
by  the  painters  of  a dark  venomous  colour,  and 
his  tail  pointed  and  raised,  as  preparing  to 
strike.  These  descriptions  in  the  poets  agree 
with  the  figure  on  the  globe,  as  far  as  they  can 
agree  with  the  bare  figure  of  a thing;  and  no 
doubt  they  have  added  the  colourings  to  it  with 
the  same  justness,  as  being  equally  acquainted 
with  the  works  of  the  painters  as  of  the  statu- 
aries. 

Arcitenens,  or  Sagittarius,  is  represented 
like  a Satyr.  He  holds  his  bow  as  just  ready 
to  shoot  an  arrow  aimed  at  the  tail  of  Scorpius. 
The  artists,  in  process  of  time,  substituted  a 


APPENDIX. 


.25.5 

aentaur  in  the  room  of  the  satyr  (as  appears 
from  several  gems  and  medals)  and  the  poets 
followed  that  idea  even  about  the  Augustan 
age.  Lucan  expressly  calls  him  Chiron,  who 
seems  rather  to  preside  over  the  constellation 
properly  called  Centaurus.  Manilius  was  in 
the  same  error,  and  mentions  some  drapery, 
though  both  are  naked  on  the  globe.  He  marks 
very  strongly  the  severity  of  his  look,  which 
appears  also  in  his  figure. 

Capricorn  is  hid,  all  but  the  head,  by  the 
globe  resting  on  Atlas’s  shoulders.  The  rest 
of  his  fiigure  might  be  supplied  from  gems  or 
medals,  particularly  from  a medal  of  Augustus 
Caesar,  where  he  is  represented  with  the  fore 
part  like  a goat,  and  ending  in  a fish. 

Aquarius  appears  like  a beautiful  fine  shaped 
youth,  or  representing  Ganymedes,  Jupiter’s 
cup  bearer.  He  holds  the  cup  or  little  urn  in 
his  hand,  inclined  downward,  and  is  always 
pouring  out  of  it,  as  the  source  of  a river  run- 
ning from  his  feet  over  a large  part  of  the  globe. 
These  particulars  are  well  marked  out  by  the 
poets. 

Pisces,  or  the  Fishes,  are  described  by  Ma- 
nilius under  water,  in  the  river  that  flows  from 
Aquarius.  Their  places  are  both  marked  by 
the  poets,  and  their  being  turned  different 
ways ; and  they  describe  them  rather  in  a more 
picturesque  manner  than  they  appear  on  the 
globe.  Ovid  gives  a very  pretty  account  how 
they  came  to  be  received  into  the  heavens. 

Aries,  or  the  Ram,  turns  his  head  baekward, 


256 


APPENDIX. 


as  Manilius  observes,  from  whom  it  appears  al^ 
so  that  he  was  painted  of  a gold  color,  and  ve^ 
ry  properly,  as  this  was  the  very  Ram  so  fa- 
mous for  his  golden  fleece  ; and  the  same  also 
that  carried  Helle  over  the  Sea,  and  gave  her 
name  to  a noted  part  of  it. 

Taurus,  or  the  Bull,^  famous  for  carrying  Eu- 
ropa  over  the  same  elcfnent,  and  giving  a name 
to  our  part  of  the  world,  is  described  by  the  po- 
ets as  he  appears  on  the  globe.  His  head  is 
turned  from  the  course  of  the  sun,  and  he  rises 
backwards.  He  is  represented  only  in  part, 
with  his  neck  bending  downward,  and  his  knee 
yet  more  bent.  On  some  gems  is  seen  his 
whole  figure,  butting  with  his  head,  and  tear- 
ing up  the  ground  with  his  feet.  From  a diffi- 
cult passage  in  Virgil,  we  find  that  Taurus  was 
represented  on  the  coloured  globes  with  gilded 
horns,  and  all  the  rest  white,  agreeably  to  the 
poetical  descriptions  of  Europa’s  bull,  and  like 
the  bulls  that  were  sacrificed  to  Jupiter  Maxi- 
mus. 

Gemini  (or  the  Twins)  are  described  by 
Manilius  as  naked,  young,  and  beautiful,  with 
their  arms  interweaved,  just  as  they  appear  on 
the  globe.  Ovid  makes  them  to  be  Castor  and 
Pollux ; but  as  these  are  always  seen  both  to- 
gether, that  cannot  be  reconciled  with  their 
taking  their  place  alternately  in  the  higher 
heavens,  unless  the  Twins  were  considered  on- 
ly as  memorials,  like  the  real  Hercules. 

These  are  the  twelve  signs  of  the  zodiac; 
the  southern  constellations  are  as  follow : 


appendix. 


25:^ 

Aro’o  is  the  famous  ship  that  carried  Jasoa 
and  the  Argonauts  to  Colchis  to  fetch  thegold-^ 
en  fleece,  and  is  said  to  be  the  first  that  was 
ever  built.  It  is  represented  as  sailing  on, 
though  but  half  of  it  appears.  There  are  no 
figures  on  it  besides  a Victory  and  a Triton. 

Hydrus,  or  the  water  serpent,  was  (Manilius 
says)  very  well  marked  out  with  stars ; but 
this  does  not  appear,  because  the  Farnese  globe 
(the  only  ancient  one  as  yet  known)  has  no 
stars.  The  situation  of  Hydrus  is  described 
by  Avienus  as  it  is  in  the  Farnese  globe. 

Crates,  or  the  Cup,  rests  on  the  back  of  the 
Hydrus  toward  the  middle.  It  is  shaped  like 
the  little  urns  which  the  ancients  used  to  drink 
out  of,  and  are  seen  in  the  hand  of  Bacchus  in 
statues  and  relievos.  This  too  is  said  to  be 
marked  out  by  its  stars. 

Corvus,  or  the  Crow,  is  perched  on  the  back 
of  the  serpent,  and  bending  down  as  pecking 
at  it.  Nothing  more  is  observed  of  it  by  the 
poets. 

Centaurus  is  just  under  the  serpent’s  taiL 
His  look  is  mild,  as  being  the  philosophical 
Chiron,  the  great  master  of  the  rules  of  equity 
and  justice,  and  the  instructor  of  Hercules,  as 
well  as  of  Achilles.  He  is  represented  as 
coming  from  the  chace  with  a young  lioness  in 
his  hand,  which  is  held  by  him  (as  a sacrifice) 
toward  the  altar  before  him. 

Ara  is  said  by  Manilius  to  be  the  altar  on 
which  Jupiter  offered  sacrifice  for  success  a- 
gainst  the  giants.  He  represented  it  as  with 

X 2 


25S 


APPElNDIX, 


lighted  coals  on  it,  and  the  frankincense  as 
flaming  up ; but  nothing  of  this  appears  on  the 
globe. 

Next  to  Ara  is  a wreath  like  Ariadne’s,  on- 
ly larger,  and  without  a ribband.  As  it  is  not 
mentioned  by  the  ancients,  there  is  no  guess- 
ing what  it  means. 

Piscis  Notus,  or  the  southern  fish,  whose 
place  should  be  under  Aquarius,  and  near  Ce- 
tus,  is  lost  by  the  globe  resting  in  that  part 
on  Atlas’s  shoulder. 

Cetus,  or  the  sea  monster  that  was  to  have 
destroyed  Andromeda,  is  well  represented 
swimming  along  the  water  that  flows  from  A- 
quarius’s  urn,  with  great  scales  on  his  breast, 
Ills  mouth  open  and  threatening,  and  his  tail 
wreathed,  just  as  he  is  described  by  Manilius. 

Flumen,  or  the  River  (supposed  originally  to 
be  the  Nile,  but  turned  by  the  Romans  into 
Eridanus,  or  the  Po)  wanders  several  ways. 
The  chief  thing  to  be  observed  is,  that  it  is 
very  winding  and  irregular,  which  is  marked 
by  the  poets  as  well  as  by  the  artists. 

Orion  kneels  on  one  knee  a little  beyond 
Cetus.  His  face  is  in  profile;  he  holds  out 
his  arms,  and  should  perhaj  s grasp  a sword  in 
his  right  hand.  But  that  part  is  indistinct,  and 
the  poets  differ  about  it.  Sometjiing  like  a 
dagger  hangs  by  his  left  side,  \^hich  agrees 
better  with  Manilius  and  Avienus’s  account  of 
his  sword  than  what  Ovid  says. 

Procyon,  or  Orion’s  dog,  rises  before  Sirius, 
and  it  is  thence  that  he  has  his  name. 


APPENDIX. 


25^ 


Sirius,  or  Canicula  (commonly  called  the 
Dog  star)  who  has  so  terrible  a character  in  the 
old  poets,  and  whose  influence  is  so  dreaded  at 
this  day  at  Rome,  was  represented  by  the  old 
painters  with  a malign  and  dark  look,  and 
sometimes  as  breathing  flames  like  the  Chimas- 
ra.  As  a mark  of  his  being  so  hot  and  fieryj 
he  is  seen  on  the  globe  with  several  odd  rays 
about  his  head.  He  is  described  as  running 
vehemently  after  Lepus,  who  appears  as  run« 
ning  from  him,  and  is  therefore  called  sw  ift,  as 
well  as  Sirius  is  by  Virgil,  even  when  speak® 
iiig  of  him  as  a constellation. 

Thus  of  the  forty  two  great  constellations  in 
the  catalogue  of  Eratosthenes,  we  find  all  on 
the  Parnese  globe,  except  the  Arcti  and  the 
Piscis  Notus.  As  for  the  Hyades,  PleiadeSp 
and  Arcturus  (so  famous  in  antiquity)  they 
were  not  reckoned  primary,  but  only  seconda- 
ry constellations,  contained,  the  two  first  in 
Taurus,  and  the  other  in  Bootes.  The  Plei- 
ades might  possibly  be  represented  personally 
in  some  ancient  globes.  Virgil  mentions  one 
of  them  in  that  manner,  and  others  speak  of 
them  as  a distinct  constellation. 


PLANETS,  TIMES  AND  SEASONS. 

SATURN  was  the  most  remote  of  the  Plan- 
ets, which  was  known  to  theantients;  and 
took  ts  name  from  Saturn  the  father  of  Jupiter, 
who  was  supposed  to  preside  over  it 


260 


APPENDIX. 


Jupiter,  Mars,  Venus  and  Mercury  were  also 
supposed  to  preside  over  those  planets  which 
bear  their  names.  Venus,  when  the  morning, 
or  evening,  star,  is  supposed  to  be  led  by  a 
youth  called  Lucifer,  Phosphorus,  or  Hesperus; 
and  many  of  the  poets  have  called  the  planet 
itself  by  those  names.  It  is  to  this  fable  the 
prophet  Isaiah  alludes  when  he  says,  How  art 
thou  fallen  from  heaven^  O Lucifer,  son  of  the 
morning,  Hilel  in  the  Hebrew  language  which 
signifies  the  morning  star,  has  been  translated 
into  the  Latin  word  Lucifer,  which  means  the 
same  thing. 

Diana  was  said  to  preside  over  the  moon, 
and  have  the  direction  of  it,  whence  she  is 
called  Luna ; and  Apollo  is  said  to  have  pre- 
sided over  the  sun  ; whence  the  poets  frequent- 
ly call  the  sun  Apollo. 

The  Mythologists  personified  the  Times  and 
Seasons.  Hebe  is  said  to  mean  Eternity.  The 
Platonic  year,  or  Magnus  Annus,  the  Scecula, 
the  Four  Ages,  the  Anni,  the  Seasons,  Ver, 
jEstas,  Autumnus,  Hyems,  the  Months,  Days, 
Night  and  Morning,  the  Evening,  the  Hours, 
Space  and  Time,  were  all  represented  as  Dei- 
Me^. 


EEFERRIKG  to  all  the  necessart  matters^ 


IN  THIS  BOOK. 


Page 


ACHERON,  a river  of  hell 

Achilles,  his  history  194 

Acidalia,  one  of  the  titles  of  Venus 
Acteon  changed  into  a stag  79 

Adonis,  account  of  55 

Adscriptiiii  dii,  gods  of  lower  rank  and  dignity 
Macus,  a judge  of  hell  2-20 

Mgeon,  a giant  224 

JEgis,  a shield  so  called,  made  by  Jupiter  25 

JEllo,  was  one  of  the  Harpies  229 

Molns,  his  history  150 

Mens,  what  they  were  11 

Aesulanus,  one  of  the  gods  of  wealth 
Aesculapius,  excelled  in  medicine,  110.  The  cock 
sacrificed  to  him  111 

Aeson,  the  father  of  Jason,  when  very  old,  was  re- 
stored to  youth  by  Medea  180 

Ajax  killed  himself,  and  his  blood  was  turned  into 
violets  197 

Alcmena,  Amphitrion^s  wife  abused  by  Jupiter  26 

Alecto,  one  of  the  Furies  221 

Alectryon  changed  into  a cock  60 

Aloeus,  a giant  224 

Amazons,  account  of  them  182 

Amhervalia,  festivals  of  Ceres  67 

Amphion,  account  of  192 

Amphitrite  wife  of  Neptune  41 


262^  INDEX. 


Ancilia  were  holy  shields  kept  in  the  temple  Mars 
Andromeda  25£ 

Antiope  discovered  by  Jupiter  26 

Apaiuria^  a title  of  Venus 

Apis^  Osiris  and  Serapis  20© 

Apollo^  his  description,  T1 — Four  of  them^  ib.  In- 
vents rausick,  &c.  72 — Destroys  the  Cyclops,  ib. 
Cast  down  from  heaven,  ib  Kills  Hyacinthus,  ib. 
Changes  Cyparissus  into  a cypress  tree,  73 — His 
impurities,  ib.  Raises  the  walls  of  Troy  by  mu- 


sick,  74 — Contends  with  Pan,  ib.  Apollo  is  the 
Sun,  ib.  Things  sacrificed  to  him  75 

Aquarius  255 

AquilUj  251 

Ara^  257 

Arcitenens,  or  Sagittarius^  254 

Arcii  or  Bears,  250 

Argo,  257 

Aries,  255 

Arachne  was  turned  into  a spider  by  Minerva  37 

Arethusa,  one  of  Diana’s  nymphs  169 

Argonauts,  wera  Jason’s  companions  that  went  with 
him  to  carry  away  the  Golden  fleece  179 

Argus,  his  history  31 

Ariadne  delivers  Theseus  out  of  the  labarynth  181 
Arion,  193 

Aristaeus,  account  of  166 

Astrea,  her  history  154 

Atalanta  and  Hippomenes  50 

Atlas,  king  of  Mauritania  190 

Atropes,  one  of  the  Fates 

Aurora,  her  likeness,  146.  Loves  Cephalus,  ib. 

Mother  of  the  winds  150 

Autolycus,  was  a most  notorious  thief 


! 


Baal,  Beel,  Beelphegor,  Beelzebub,  Beelzemen,  BccZ- 
samen,Belus,  were  names  of  Jupiter 
Bacc/ms,  his  appearance,  101.  Birth.  His  inven- 
tions, 102.  His  rites,  103.  Who  he  was,  105. 

His  priests,  106.  Meaning  of  this  fable  lOt 


INDEX.  263 

Page 

Sarbata^  one  of  the  titles  of  Venus 

Bassarides  were  nymphs  of  Bacchus 

Battle  of  the  Gods  and  Titans  23^ 

Battus  bribed  by  Mercury  to  conceal  his  theft  91 

Belides,  their  crimes  and  punishment  225 

Bellerophon,  account  of  185 

Bellona,  the  goddess  of  war  59 


Biblis  fell  in  love  with  her  brother  Caunus,  she  died 
of  grief,  and  was  turned  into  a fountain 
Biceps  and  Bifrons^  two  names  of  Janus 
Biformis^  Bromius  and  Brimatcr,  names  of  Bacchus 
Body,  the  human,  Gods  presiding  over  the  different 


parts  of  it  ITT 

Bolina  drowns  herself  T5 

Bootes,  250 

Brennus,  the  Gaul  16 


Bubona,  a deity  presiding  over  oxen 
Busiris  was  a cruel  tyrant,  who  offered  human  sac- 
rifices to  his  father  Neptune ; he  was  killed  by 
Hercules,  and  was  himself  sacrificed  to  Neptune. 


Caeeulus  son  of  V ulcan  65 

Cabiri  or  Caberi,  priests  of  Cybele  14S 

Cadmus  built  the  city  of  Thebes,  invented  the  great- 
est part  of  the  Greek  Alphabet,  sowed  the  teeth 
of  a dragon  in  the  ground,  from  .whence  armed 
men  sprang  up  ; both  he  and  his  wife  Hermione 
were  turned  into  sef^)ents 

Calista,  robbed  of  her  virginity  by  Jupiter*  26 

Calliope  one  of  the  Muses  173 

Calumny, 

Cambyscs,  16 

Cancer,  253 

Capricorn,  • 255 

Canopus,  a god  of  the  Egyptians  205 

Cassiopeia,  252 

Castor  and  Pollux,  119,  Castor  tormented  by  furies  120 
Centaurs,  Harpies,  See,  their  history  228 

CercSj  her  figure,  83.  Her  origin,  ib*  Debauched 


264  INDEX. 

Fag|s' 

by  Jupiter  and  Neptune,  ib»  Meaning  of  her  fa- 
ble, 84.  Her  festivals  86 

€etus^  S58 

Charon,  his  history  216 

Charyhdis,  account  of  210 

Chastity,  a virtue  238 

ChimcBra,  history  of  it  229 

Chione,  punished  by  Diana  80 

Chiron  the  Centaur  111 

Circe,  daughter  of  Apollo,  her  history 
Clavigtr,  one  of  the  titles  of  Janus  and  of  Hercules 
Clemency,  a virtue  238 

Clio,  one  of  the  Muses  173 

Clolho,  one  of  the  Fates 

Clyteemnestra  kills  her  husband,  120.  Slain  by  her 
Son,  ib, 

Cocytus,  a river  of  hell 

Coenis,  account  of  44 

Concord,  her  image  240 

Constellations,  the  celestial  249 

Contumely,  243 

Consus,  a name  of  Neptune  hence  the  games  called 
Consulia 

Corona,  or  Ariadne’s  crown  250 

Corvus,  257 

Corybantes,  priests  of  Cybele  142 

Crates  or  Cup  ' 257 

Cronia,  festivals  in  honor  of  Saturn 
Cunia  and  Carmenta,  were  tutelar  goddesses  to  new 
born  infants 

Cupid,  history  of,  54.  Two  of  them,  ib, 

Curetes,  priests  of  Cybele  142 

Cybele,  her  description,  141.  Her  sacrifices,  ib. 

Cyclops  destroyed  by  Apollo,  72.  AVere  the  chil- 
dren of  Neptune  65 

Cyllenius,  one  of  the  names  of  Mercury 
Cygnus,  252 

Cyparissus,  changed  into  a Cyprus  tree  by  Apollo  73 
Cypris,  Cytheris^  Cythtra  and  Calvaj  were  names  of 
Venus 


INDEX, 


265 

IBcBdatus  was  a famous  artificer,  he  invented  the^^^ 
Axe,  the  vSaw,  the  Plumb  line,  the  Augre  and 
Glue,  he  was  shut  up  by  Minos  in  a Lab^yrinth, 
which  he  himself  had  made,  but  fled  out  of  it  with 
artificial  wings 

X)oemon  Bonus^  Dithyrambus,  Dionysius^  names  of 
Bacchus : Dcemon  Bonus,  was  also  a title  of  Fri- 
apus 

Danaides,  the  fifty  daughters  of  Danaus  who  were 
punished  in  hell,  for  killing  their  husbands  on 


their  wedding  night 

Daphne,  changed  into  a laurel  73 

Dea  Syria,  one  of  the  titles  of  Venus 

Deltoton  or  Triangle  £53 

Demiurgus,  1q 

Diana,  her  description,  7T.  Names,  ib.  Parentage  78 

Dictynna,  one  of  the  names  of  Diana 

Dies,  Diespiter,  names  of  Jupiter 

DU  Majorum  Gentium,  the  superior  deities  10 

DU  Minorum  Gentium,  the  subordinate  deities  10 


DU  Indigetes,  and  Dii  Adscriptitii,  gods  that  once 
were  men 

Dindymene  and  Dindyme,  names  of  Cybele 

Dionysia,  festivals  in  honor  of  Bacchus 

Dirce,  the  names  of  the  Furies 

Dis,  one  of  the  names  of  Pluto 

Discord,  the  goddess 

Dodoneus,  a name  of  Jupiter 

Dolius,  a name  of  Mercury 

Draco,  or  the  Serpent  £50 

Druids,  priests  among  the  Gauls 
Dryades,  nymphs  of  the  woods 

^leus,  Eleleus,  Eleutherius,  names  of  Bacchus 
Eleusina,  one  of  the  liames  of  Ceres 
Elicius,  a name  of  Jupiter 
Elysium,  account  of  it 

Endymion,  the  shepherd,  account  of  78 

Enialius,  one  of  the  titles  of  Mars 
¥ 


266 


INDEX< 


Env^, 

Engonasts, 

Episirophia,  a name  of  Venus 

Erato^  one  of  the  Muses 

Eresichthon^  contemns  the  sacrifices  of  Ceres 

ETicthonius, 

Ergatis,  one  of  the  names  of  Minerva 
Erinnys^  a name  common  to  the  Furies 
Eros^  a name  of  Cupid 
Erydna,  a name  of  Venus 
Eieoeles  and  Polyniees^  sons  of  Oedipus 
Edhus,  EvaUy  Euchius^  names  of  Bacchus 
Eumenides,  a general  name  of  the  Furies 
Eurydice,  beloved  by  Aristseus 
Euterpe^  one  of  the  Muses 
Egyptian  Philosophy 


243 

250 


ITS 

86 

253 


^1 


166 

1T4 

10 


Eaith^  one  of  the  Virtues  286 

Fame,  the  goddess  245 

Fa/es,  account  of  them  221 

Fauna  and  Fatua,  names  of  Cybele 

Fauns,  their  history  164 

Februus,  a name  of  Pluto 

Feretrius,  a name  of  Jupiter 

Feronia,  account  of  160 

Fever,  24T 

Fidelity,  a Viitue  241 

Flora,  account  of  158 

Florida,  a title  of  Juno 

Flumen,  258 

Fortune,  a goddess  247 

Fraud,  244 

Fulgens  and  Fulminator,nBmes  of  Jupite? 

Furies,  thir  history  221 

Fury,  one  of  the  Vices  245 


Gain,  priests  of  Cybele 

Ganymede,  taken  up  into  heaven  ^ 2t 

Genitorj  Gragos  and  Grapsiusj  names  of  Jwpiter 


index:. 


267 


Gtnius  or  Genii^  1T4.  It  is  also  one  of  the  names 
of  Priapus 

Gemini,  25G 

Geryon,  a Centaur 

Giants,  Titans,  &c.  their  history 

Glaucopis,  a title  of  Minerva 

Glaucus,  the  fisherman  S05 

Golden  Fleece  carried  off  by  Jason  1T9 

Goat,  suckled  Jupiter  ^4 

Gods,  the  several  classes  of  them  92 

Good  Genius,  242 

Gods  and  Goddesses  presiding  over  infants  ITT 

Graces,  history  of  the 
Gravidus,  one  of  the  titles  of  Mars 

Hades,  a name  of  Pluto 
Hamadryades,  nymphs  of  the  woods 
Harpies,  their  history  228 

Health,  241 

Hecate,  a name  of  Diana  77 

Helicon,  the  fount  of  the  Musea 
Hell,  deities  of  it  212 

Heraria,  were  sacrifices  offered  to  Juno 
Hesperus,  260 

Hercule,  Hercle,  an  oath  taken  only  by  men,  where*^ 
as  the  women  used  Mcastor 
Hercules,  son  of  Jupiter  and  Alcmena,  94*  His  la- 
bors, 95.  Death  99 

Hermaphroditus,  a son  of  Mercury  9J, 

Hermes,  one  of  Mercury^s  names 
Hesperidet,  the  daughters  of  Hesperus 
Hesperus,  the  brother  of  Atlas  191 

Hippius  and  Hippodromus,  names  of  Neptune 
Hippotades,  one  of  the  names  of  .®olu8 
Hireus,  the  reputed  father  of  Orion 
Hope,  one  of  the  Virtues  237 

Hortensis,  a title  of  Venus 

Hyades,  daughters  of  Atlas  19t 

Hymenmus,  the  god  of  marriage 


268 


INDEX. 


HymencEfUs,  account  of 
Hydrus, 


53 

257 


lacchus,  one  of  the  names  of  Bacchus 
Janus  takes  Saturn  into  a share  of  his  kingdom,  133 
Who  he  was,  ih.  Of  his  temple,  134.  Meaning 
of  the  fable,  ih.  He  first  instituted  altars  135 

Jason,  his  history  178 

Idcei  Daciyli,  priests  of  Cybele  142 

Idolaters,  14 

Impudence^  243 

Inachis,  a name  of  lo  or  Isis 

Infants,  gods  presiding  over  them  176 

Jo,  her  history  30 

Iphigenia  was  carried  to  be  sacrificed  toDianaTau- 
rica,  but  was  spared,  and  made  priestess  of  Diana 
Iringes,  daughter  of  Pan  130 

Juga,  one  of  Juno’s  titles 

Juno,  her  appearance  and  attendants,  29.  Her 
children,  30.  Jealous,  ib.  Her  fable  explained  33 
Juno  Inferna,  a name  of  Proserpina 
Jupiter,  how  represented,  23.  Many  of  them,  24. 

His  education,  ib.  His  brethren,  25.  Punishes 
Dycaon,  ib.  His  debaucheries,  ib.  He  was  a 
king  in  Crete,  26.  Jupiter,  Neptune  and  Pluto 
compared  to  the  three  sons  of  Noah,  27.  Carri- 
ed Bacchus  in  his  thigh 
Jupiter  Seeundus,  a name  of  Neptune 
Justice,  one  of  the  Virtues  237 

Ixion,  account  of  225 


Lachesis,  one  of  the  Fates 
Lacina,  Lucina,  Lucilia,  titles  of  Juno 
Lamice  or  Empusce,  account  of  them 
Lapis  or  Lapidmis,  titles  of  Jupiter 
Lares,  history  of  them 
Laiialis,  a title  of  Jupiter 

Latona,  her  history,  144.  Despised  by  Niobe,  145. 


229 

17^ 


1NDEX>  269 

Lenee,  priestesses  of  Bacchus 

Led,  £5S 

Lethe,  a river  of  hell 
Leucosia,  one  of  the  Syrens 

Lucothoe,  her  history,  208.  Ravished  by  Apollo  7S 

Liberty,  a Virtue  S41 

Libra,  254 

Ligcea.  one  of  the  Syrens 

Liparus,  account  of  159 

Lucina,  a name  of  Diana  79 

Luna,  a name  of  Diana  77 

Jjycaon*s  impiety,  25.  His  punishment,  ih 
Lyra,  251 

Maia,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Atlas 
Marina,  Melanis,  Meretrix,  Migonitis,  Murcia^ 
names  of  Venus 

Mars,  his  attendants,  59.  Parentage,  ib*  Intrigue 
with  Venus,  60.  Sacrifices  61 

Marsyas,  flea’d  alive  by  Apollo  74 

Magians,  11 

Medea,  account  of  her  179 

Meleager,  punished  by  Diana  89 

Melpomene,  one  of  the  Muses  174 

Memnon,  history  of  149 

Mena,  one  of  the  nuptial  goddesses 
Mercury,  his  description  and  patronage,  88.  In- 
vented letters,  ih,  A noted  thief,  His  offi- 
ces, 91.  His  sacrifices  9% 

Mercy,  one  of  the  Virtues 

Merope,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Atlas,  married  to 
Sisyphus 

Mestra  or  Mestre  or  Metra,  account  of  44 

Meiroa,  sacrifices  offered  to  Cybele 
Midae,  had  his  ears  changed  into  an  asses’  by  Apol- 
lo, 74.  His  request  of  Bacchus  103 

Mimallones,  attendants  on  Bacchus 
Minerva,  her  similitude,  33.  Came  out  of  Jupiter’i 
fereheadj  34.  Her  chagtityj  36.  Her  honarf? 

T 2 


270 


INDEX. 


ST.  Fable  explained,  ib, 

Minos,  one  cf  the  judges  of  hell 
Mirth, 

Mnemosyne,  mother  of  the  Muses 
Momus,  account  of  him,  15^.  His  judgment  in 
the  cause  of  Neptune,  Vulcan  and  Minerva,  ib. 
Money,  242 

Moses,  thought  to  be  Bacchus  105 

Morpheus,  was  the  servant  of  Somnus,  his  office  was 
to  bring  dreams  to  people 

Muses,  account  of  them  ITS 

Musica,  one  of  the  titles  of  Minerva 

Naades,  were  priestesses  of  Bacchus 

Naides  and  Naiades,  were  nymphs  of  the  fountains 

Narcissus,  account  of  ITO 

Nebrodes,  one  of  the  names  of  Bacchus 

Nemesis,  her  history  154 

Neptune,  his  description,  41.  Marries  Amphitrite, 


ib»  His  altar  placed  under  ground,  42.  His 


children 

43 

Nereus, 

Nerio  or  Nerione,  the  wife  of  Mars 
Nimrod,  said  to  be  Bacchus 

205 

Niobe,  her  history 

Nissxus,  one  of  the  names  of  Bacchus 
Nomius,  one  of  the  names  of  Apollo 
Nona,  one  of  the  Fates 

144 

Nox,  her  history 
Nuptialis,  one  of  Juno’s  titles 
Nyetilius,  a name  of  Bacchus 

21^ 

Nydimene,  account  of 
Nymphagetes,  a name  of  Neptune 

48 

Nymphs,  their  history 
Occator,  the  god  of  harrowing 

16T 

Oceanus,  history  of 

204 

Oedipus,  account  of 

231 

Olympius,  Opiiulus^  OpitulatoTj  names  and  titles  of 
Jupiter 

Page 

220 

242 

1T3 


INDEX, 


Operius,  one  of  the  names  of  Pluto 
Ophiucus, 

Opifer^  a title  of  Apollo 
Opigenaj  a title  of  Juno 
Opis.  a name  of  Diana 
Ops,  a name  of  Cybele 
Orcus  or  Ouragus,  name  of  Pluto 
Orion, 

Orion,  account  of 

overcomes  the  Syrens,  192.  His  history, 
Oscilla,  small  images  of  Bacchus,  hung  on  trees 


while  his  festivals  were  solemnizing 
Osiris,  Apis  and  Serapis  ^00 

Othus,  one  of  the  Giants  that  warred  against  heaven 

Paloemon,  account  of  205 

Pales,  her  history  160 

Palladium,  what  $5^ 

Pan,  his  birth  and  parentage,  129.  His  description, 
ib  is  a symbol  of  the  universe  ISO 

Pandora,  account  of  her  64 

Paris  and  Helena,  51 

Parnassides,  the  Muses  were  so  called 
Parthenope,  one  of  the  Syrens 

Pasphee,  daughter  of  Apollo  1ST 

Pasithea,  one  of  Cybele^s  names 
Peace,  a \^irtue  240 

Pegasus,  the  Muses  horse,  he  was  caught  and  rid- 
den upon  by  Bellerophon,  and  was  placed  in 
heaven  among  the  stars  252 

Ptlops,  history  of  22T 

Penates^  account  of  them  175 

Penelope,  her  history  196 

Periclimenes , account  of  43 

Perseus,  son  of  lupiter  andDanae,  184.  Androm- 
eda, ih.  C uts  off  Medusa’s  head,  185.  Made  a 
Constellation  252 

Persians,  worship  Phoebus 


Pesinutia^  a goddess,  whose  image  was  only  a 


271 

Page 

251 

T9 

258 

199 


(272  mDEx, 

Page 

shapeless  stone ; it  was  also  a name  of  Cybele 
Phaeton^  his  history  1^6 

Phan(Bus,  a name  of  Apollo 
Phle^ethon^  a river  of  hell 

Phelegyas^  burnt  the  temple  of  Apollo  225 

Phxbus,  or  the  Sun^  135.  His  debaucheries  136 

Pliorcus,  son  of  Neptune  43 

Phosphorus,  260 

Piety,  one  of  the  Virtues  237 

Pisces,  255, 258 

Planets,  Times  and  Seasons  ~ 259 

Pleiades,  daughters  of  Atlas  190 

Pluto,  his  history  213 

Plutus,  account  of  214 

Polyhymnia,  one  of  the  Muses  174 

Polyphemus,  who  he  was  66 

Polyxena,  daughter  of  Priamus  195 

Pomia,  a title  of  Venus 

Pomona,  her  history  157 

Porthemus  and  Fortitor,  names  of  Charon 
Priapus,  account  of  him  165 

Primigenia  and  Frivata,  titles  of  Fortune 
Procyon,  258 

Prometheus,  steals  fire  from  heaven,  187.  His  his- 
tory, ih. 

Propylcea,  one  of  the  names  of  Hecate  or  Diana 
Proserpina,  her  history,  215.  Signification  of  her 
fable  216 

Proteus,  son  of  Neptune  206 

Pylotis,  one  of  the  titles  of  Minerva 
Pyramus  and  Thisbe,  48 

Pyrrha,  the  wife  of  Deucalion 
Pytho,  a daughter  of  Atlas 

Quietus,  a name  of  Pluto 
Quirinus,  a title  of  Jupiter 


Pectus,  one  of  Bacchus’s  titles 

Regmcti  titles  of  Fortune 


INDEX. 


273 

Page 

Remus^  son  of  Mars  and  Illia,  113.  Slain  at  the 
founding  of  Rome  115 

lihadamanthus,  of  hell  220 

Mhamnusia,  a.  name  of  emesis  155 

hhea,  a name  of  Cybele 

Romulus^  account  of,  112.  Son  of  Mars  and  Illia, 
113.  Brought  up  by  Faustulus,  114.  Founds 
Rome,  115.  Carried  up  to  heaven,  117.  Wor- 


shipped as  the  god  Q^uiriiius,  ib, 

Ruminus,  one  of  Jupiter’s  titles 

Rural  Gods  and  Goddesses  170 

Salacia^  wife  of  Neptune  42 

Salii,  priests  of  Mars  61 

Salmacis^  a nymph,  her  history  91 

t^almoneus,  account  of  226 

Sator  and  Saritor^  rural  gods 


Saturn,  bis  description,  122.  Obtains  the  kingdom 
of  his  brother  Titan,  124.  Jupiter  deposes  him, 
125.  He  goes  to  Italy,  ib.  His  sacrifices,  126. 


Sense  of  his  fable  127 

Satyrs^  their  description  162 

Scorpius,  254 

Scylla  and  Charybdis  210 

Semele,  her  history  101 

Serapis^  an  Egyptian  god,  the  same  with  Apis 
Senator,  Soter,  Stator,  Stabilitor,  titles  of  Jupiter 
Silence,  247 

Silenu'i,  his  history  161 

Sirens,  history  of  them  208 

Strms  or  Canicula,  259 

Sisyphus,  a robber  226 

Sol,  a name  of  Apollo 

Sphynx,  a monster  236 


Spolia  bpima,  th6se  spoils  which  one  general  takes 
from  another  in  battle 
Slercutius,  a name  of  Saturn 
^tyx,  a river  of  hell 
Suada,.  on%  of  the  nuptial  goddessea 


274 


Sucalce,  daughters  of  Atlas,  called  also  Hyades 


Summanus^  a name  of  Pluto 
Sun^  is  Apollo 

Sylvarms^  account  of  161 

Syrens  vide  Sirens 

Syrinx y changed  into  reeds  130 

Tatida,  one  of  the  goddesses  of  silence 

Tantalus,  son  of  Jupiter  by  Plota  S2T 

Taiiriceps,  Tauriformis,  names  of  Bacchus 

Taurus,  256 

Taygete,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Atlas 

Teldiines,  priest  of  Cybele 

Terminus,  166 

Terpsicore,  one  of  the  MuseS  174 

Thalia,  one  of  the  Muses  173 

Themis,  account  of  her  154 

Theseus,  his  history,  181.  Subdues  the  Amazons, 

182.  Descends  into  hell  183 

Thesmophoria,  festivals  of  Ceres  87 

Thetis,  hides  Achilles  194 

Thyades,  were  companions  of  Bacchus 
Titan,  resigns  the  kingdom  to  Saturn,  124.  Makes 
war  upon  him,  ih. 

Titans,  account  of  them  225 

Tithonus,  beloved  by  Aurora  148 

Tityus,  the  giant  224 

Trieterica,  sacrifices  of  Bacchus 

Triptolemus,  account  of  85 

Triton,  a god  of  the  sea  204 

Trivia,  one  of  the  names  of  Hecate  or  Diana 
Truth,  one  of  the  Virtues  239 

Tutelar,  Gods  177 

TyndnridcB,  the  children  of  Tyndarus,  Helena,  Cly- 
taemnestra,  Castor  and  Pollux 
Typhceus  or  Typhon,  account  of  223 

Vedius,  a name  of  Jupiter 

Yenilia,  wife  of  Neptune  42 


INDEX. 


275 

Page 

Venus,  her  appearance,  44.  How  worshipped,  46. 


Four  of  them,  47.  Her  wickedness,  ib.  Expla- 
nation of  her  fable  56 

Verticordia,  a title  of  Venus  155 

Vertumnus,  his  history,  155.  Courts  Pomona,  156. 

Could  turn  himself  into  any  shape,  ib. 

Vesta,  her  history,  66.  Two  of  them,  68.  The  fa- 
ble explained  69 

Vestal  virgins  68 

Vices,  account  of  them  243 

Vergo,  a title  of  Fortune 

Virgo,  253 

Virtue,  the  Virtues  236 

Ulysses,  history  of,  196.  Disputes  with  Ajax,  197. 

His  adventures,  ib. 

Understanding,  240 

tJnxia,  a title  of  Juno 

Urania,  one  of  the  Muses  174 


Vulcan,  spreads  an  iron  net  over  Mars  and  Venus, 
63.  His  history,  ib.  Cast  out  of  heaven,  ib. 
Courts  Minerva,  ib.  Marries  Venus,  ib.  His 
temple  on  Mount  Etna,  64.  Makes  the  first 
woman,  ib.  By  Vulcan,  fire  is  meant,  ib, 

one  of  Jupiter’s  names. 


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